Post File Photo by Chris Siers
Ben Franklin put the Bulldogs on his back on Friday night at Ezell-Harding. He rushed for 198 yards and four touchdowns in Cornersville’s win.
By Chris Siers
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
NASHVILLE — In Cornersville’s season-opener several weeks ago, the Bulldogs were able to establish the line of scrimmage, open running lanes and turned the stable full of backs loose.
Following that opening win, the ‘Dawgs had a couple of tough luck losses, but on Friday night, Cornersville (2-2) got back in the win column with a monster win at Ezell-Harding (2-2).
Cornersville cranked out nearly 400 yards of total offense and the Bulldogs thrashed Ezell-Harding for a 54-34 non-region victory.
“We bounced back after two tough losses. Played with great effort and energy. We challenged the offensive line to play better all week and they really responded. So proud of those guys up front,” Cornersville coach Eliot Cook said.
The Bulldogs wasted no time in establishing their game plan.
In the first quarter alone, the Bulldogs ran for three touchdowns and scored a fourth off a defensive effort.
Senior quarterback Blaine Woodard put the Bulldogs on the board with a 1-yard run barely four minutes into the game.
Five minutes later, senior Navy commit Ben Franklin scored his first touchdown of the night, also coming on a 1-yard burst into the end zone.
Barely a minute later, Wesley Pigg returned an interception 57 yards to the house, giving the Bulldogs a three-touchdown lead before the Eagles notched their first points of the night.
Eventually, Ezell-Harding got its offensive wheels moving and connected on an 80-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter with 1:07 to go in the opening frame.
Even with five scoring plays between the two teams in the opening frame, the Bulldogs added one more score when Austin Cooper rattled loose on a 58-yard jaunt to give the visitors a 26-7 lead by the end of the first.
Franklin added two more scores of six and 10 yards in the second quarter, while Ezell-Harding added another 80-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 30-14 at the half.
Not letting off the gas, the Bulldog ground game continued to chew up yardage in the second half and Franklin found his fourth score of the night on a 2-yard run and Pigg added his first rushing touchdown from eight yards out with less than two minutes to go in the period.
Leading 54-14, Ezell-Harding kicked it into overdrive and added a rushing touchdown and two more passing scores in the fourth quarter.
Even with the 20-point surge, Cornersville’s early lead was more than the Eagles could overcome and the ‘Dawgs were able to snap a two-game skid.
Franklin led the ‘Dawgs with 198 yards on 16 carries, while Cooper also hit the century mark and finished with 103 yards on nine touches.
Woodard also ran it well, adding 54 yards on eight carries.
Cornersville will return to more familiar territory and will travel to Richland for a Region 5-A matchup in the Battle of Buford Station.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Friday night.
Cornersville 26 14 14 0 — 54
Ezell-Harding 7 7 0 20 — 34
First Quarter
C — Blaine Woodard 1 run, 8:44.
C — Ben Franklin 1 run, 3:41.
C — Wesley Pigg 57 interception return, 2:23.
E — Cailon Robinson 80 pass, 1:07.
C — Austin Cooper 58 run, :14.
Second Quarter
C — Franklin 6 run, 5:09.
E — Robinson 80 pass, 4:51.
C — Franklin 10 run, 1:56.
Third Quarter
C — Franklin 2 run, 8:59.
C — Pigg 8 run, 4:38.
Fourth Quarter
E — Jayden McKnight 1 run, 11:00.
E — Brayden McGuire 69 pass, 3:18.
E — Lorenzo Hawkins 19 pass, 0:00.
