By Dennis Holley
Sports Writer
CORNERSVILLE — On Cornersville’s Senior Night, the Bulldogs (4-3, 1-2) used another huge rushing night from senior Ben Franklin, who totaled 309 yards on 17 carries, highlighted by an 89-yard run that tight roped the sidelines, then cut to the middle of the field that left blockers and defenders alike, as well as the Bulldog, faithful stunned as he cruised into the end zone that put Cornersville up 21-0, at that time,
That lead held as the Bulldogs cruised to a 40-14 win over Wayne County (3-4, 1-3).
Bulldog seniors honored on Friday night were Kale Adcox, Tristan Braden, Peyton Cherry, Ben Franklin, Austin King, Levi Mitchell, Wesley Pigg, Beau Schillig, Seth Vines, Trenton Walker, Jake Welch, Jonathan Zuniga, and Blaine Woodard.
The Bulldogs first possession began with a steady diet of Franklin pounding the Wildcat defense, but the Wayne County defense stood up and stopped the Bulldog march.
A short Bulldog punt went out of bounds the Wildcats began their first possession at their own 36-yard line.
The Wildcats leaned on Ryder Butler, although small, but possessing good speed.
On first down the senior running back, found the corner and raced to the Bulldog 41-yard line, but the Cornersville defense bowed its back and on fourth and eight, denied the Wildcat pass attempt.
Three plays later, Franklin took the handoff, broke through the Wildcat right side, and outran the Wayne County defenders for the touchdown, but the kick after missed wide.
With 5:33 left in first quarter Cornersville led, 6-0.
Defensively, the Bulldogs leaned on Wesley Pigg and Blaine Woodard to stop the following Wayne County drive and forced a punt, allowing Cornersville to take over at their own 38-yard line.
Using Franklin and Pigg as battering rams began to bulldoze the Wildcat defense, Woodard then found Hunter Uland for a pass to the 40-yard line.
Franklin again got loose but was tripped up at the Wildcat 3-yard line, but two plays later the senior found a hole in the Wildcat defense and ran into the end zone, tacking on a 2-point conversion as well to up the Cornersville lead to 14-0.
Wayne County then went on a 10-play drive, pounding the Cornersville defensive line and moving the ball to the Bulldog 11-yard line but a fumble resulted in Cornersville’s Jackson Smith falling on the ball and two plays later Franklin roared around his left side, reached the corner, tight-roped the sidelines and broke to the center of the field for the 89-yard touchdown.
Joseth Palma’s kick after was was good and the Bulldogs led 21-0 with 5:24 left until halftime.
The Wildcats answered with a 79-yard touchdown pass from Carstan Bevis to Sayler Skelton, who broke across the middle and outran the Bulldog defensive backs for a 79-yard touchdown.
The following 2-point conversion was stopped the Wildcats now trailed 21-6 with 4:59 until halftime.
Later in the quarter, Uland stepped in front of Bevis’ pass and intercepted returning the ball to the Wildcat 16-yard line.
Two plays later Woodard faked the hand-off to Franklin then gave it to Uland and the sophomore ran around the Bulldog right side, saw a crease, and headed to the end zone.
Palma’s kick after was
good and with 28 seconds until halftime the Bulldogs now led, 28-6.
The Wildcats began the third quarter with an impressive 16-play drive that moved the ball to the Bulldog 12-yard line where the Cornersville defense bowed it’s back forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down that thwarted the Wildcats.
To compound the Wildcats misery on first and 10 at the Bulldog 8-yard line, Franklin swept around the right side of the Wildcat defense and streaked to the 28-yard line before being stopped.
Three plays later Woodard rolled right and found Uland open and delivered the ball for a 19-yard touchdown, but the kick after was no-good and with 42 seconds left in the third quarter the Bulldogs now led 34-6.
The Wildcats began the fourth quarter and as they did in the third moved down the ball down field and aided by a Bulldog penalty after a pass completion to the Bulldog 3-yard line, the Wildcats pushed the ball over the goal line and converted a 2-point conversion now trailing 34-14 with 11:22 left in the ball game.
Cornersville’s Brandon Hargrave fielded the short kickoff and moved the ball to the Bulldog 47-yard line.
The Bulldogs moved the ball down field with Woodard being stopped at the 5-yard line, then on first down Woodard’s pass found Beau Schillig open in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown.
Woodard had perhaps his best game as he completed 6-of-10 passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bulldogs improved their Region 5-1A record to 2-2 with road games to Huntland and Eagleville remaining in the 2023 regular season with a resounding 40-14 victory.
“Congratulations to our seniors. Last home game, great region win. Anytime you can get a win against a quality team like Wayne County is great. Blaine Woodard played with a chip on his shoulder because it was said he hadn’t thrown for a TD pass this year. Well, he changed that tonight,” Coach Elliot Cook said after the game.
After the bye week this week, the Bulldogs will be back in action for another region matchup at Huntland on October 20.
Wayne County 0 6 0 8 — 14
Cornersville 14 14 6 6 — 40
First Quarter
C — Ben Franklin 56 run, (kick failed) 5:33.
C — Franklin 3 run, (Franklin 2pt. run) 0:01.
Second Quarter:
C — Franklin 89 run, (Joseth Palma kick), 5:24.
WC — Saylor Skelton 79 pass from Carsten Bevis, (kick failed), 4:59.
C — Hunter Uland 16 run, (Palma kick), 0:28.
Third Quarter
C — Uland 19 yd pass from Woodard, (kick failed) 0:42.
Fourth Quarter
WC — Bevis 6 run, (Bevis 2pt. run), 11:22.
C — Beau Shillig 5 pass from Woodard, (kick failed) 9:18.