The Cornersville Bulldogs traveled to Maury County Friday night, wrapping up the regular season versus the Division II-A Zion Christian Academy Eagles and they used the bruising running of Cason Warner and two touchdowns runs by Rhett Woodard to turn back the Eagles 33-22.

With the denied appeal of using an ineligible player by Fayetteville on Tuesday by the TSSAA, the Bulldogs (7-3, 4-1)) finished in second place in Region 4A and host Collinwood (5-5, 4-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Frog Bottom in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs.

The Bulldogs and Trojans have a long history of football and have played 14 times since 2001 with Cornersville’s only win in that time period coming in 2011 when the Bulldogs won 38-26 at Frog Bottom.

Huntland (7-3, 4-1) will host Hollow Rock-Bruceton (5-5, 3-3) and second-ranked Huntingdon (10-0, 6-0) hosts Richland (6-4, 2-3) on Friday night while Mt. Pleasant (8-2, 3-2) travels to McEwen (7-3, 5-1) on Saturday.

Zion won the toss on Friday and elected to receive the ball to start the game, but the Bulldog defense was up to the task and forced a three-and-out with two incompletions by Mark Lowery.

Cornersville began their first possession at their own 39-yard line but matching Zion’s first effort could not move the ball and Cameron Estes punted on fourth down.

This time the Eagles began to click with Lowery picking up first downs on two third down plays with runs of eight and three yards.

Zion moved the ball to the Bulldogs’ 26-yard line and then were aided by a Cornersville offside penalty and after a first-and-10 from the 21-yard line, the Bulldogs were guilty of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, putting the ball down to the 12-yard line.

Cornersville got a sack by Trenton Posey and a fourth down incompletion halted the Eagles’ drive at the 7-yard line and the first quarter ended with no score.

The second quarter saw the Bulldogs begin to move the ball on the Eagles defense.

Warner began to assert himself on a third-and-five play when he rushed up the middle for a first down to the Zion 49-yard line.

Then Brady Calahan showed he can complement Warner with a run for another first down that moved the ball to the Zion 38-yard line.

The Bulldogs’ drive was hampered by an illegal shift penalty and a delay of game penalty that brought up a third-and-20.

Bulldog QB Jackson Farler completed a pass to Jackson Mitchell for a first down at the Zion 16-yard line before Warner rumbled to the one-yard line for a first down, punishing Eagle defenders along the way.

After a one-half yard loss and an offside by Zion, Farler ran around the left side for a touchdown.

Jackson Williams’ kick made it Cornersville 7, Zion Christian 0 at the 5:46 mark of the second quarter.

After the ensuing kickoff, Lowery threw two incompletions and was sacked by the Bulldog defense and the Eagles were forced to punt.

The Bulldogs, picking up where they had left off on their last possession and using Warner, Calahan, and Alex Hillard rushed the ball moved to the Zion 34-yard line.

Hillard ran for six yards then Woodard got loose and carried the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.

William’s kick was no good, but the Bulldogs’ lead increased to 13-0 with 59.6 seconds left in the first half.

Zion answered the call and Lowery found Brennan Ware behind the Bulldog defense for a 61-yard touchdown.

Wes Riggins’ PAT was good and with 10.9 seconds left in the second quarter Zion had cut the lead to 13-7.

The third quarter began with the Bulldogs fielding an onside kick, but the drive bogged down and Estes had to punt.

Lowery went back to work showing his skill at quarterback, using quick and accurate throws over the middle to move the ball downfield to the Bulldogs’ 38-yard line.

From there he found Warren Riggins for the TD and with the PAT kick being true the Eagles now led 14-13 at the 4:39 mark of the third quarter.

Brady Calahan then went to work for the Bulldogs, taking the kickoff and finding a seam and making his way all the way the Eagles’ 10-yard line.

Calahan took the first-and-goal handoff and moved five more yards to the Zion 5-yard line.

After a Zion offside penalty, Calahan continued his assault and bulled his way over for a touchdown.

“Whenever the coaches call on someone to fill a role everyone on the team does that,” Calahan said. “I could not have done that without my teammates filling their role.”

Calahan completed his attack as he rushed for the two-point conversion to push Cornersville back in front 21-14 at the 3:41 mark of the third quarter.

Lowery continued his assault on the Bulldog defense, using quick and accurate throws to move downfield to the Bulldogs’ 22-yard line where he found Dillon Runions for the TD.

Lowery finished the drive off rushing for the two-point conversion to put Zion ahead 22-21 at the 9:42 mark of the fourth quarter.

Answering the call, Warner and Calahan pounding the Eagles’ defense as they moved the ball to the Zion 15-yard line where Warner then bruised his way into the end zone.

“I want to give my line the credit, they opened the holes for me,” Warner said, “The coaches tell us to punish people when we run.”

The two-point conversion was no good, but Cornersville took the lead once again at 27-22.

Lowery and company, now feeling the pressure and aided by a Bulldog penalty moved to the Cornersville 40-yard line.

An incompletion and a Bulldog sack brought up fourth-and-15, but Lowery’s pass fell incomplete and the Bulldogs took over with 2:04 remaining in the game.

Running the ball to eat the clock, Woodard found a hole and rushed in for his second TD.

“Their (Zion) strength is their passing game and they made it hard on us tonight,” Cornersville coach Gerard Randolph said. “We came up with a big stop in the fourth quarter to help us win this game tonight.”

Cornersville 0 13 8 12-33

Zion Christian 0 7 7 8-22

Scoring Plays

Second Quarter

Cornersville-Jackson Farler runs for 1-yard run, Jackson Williams PAT, 5:48.

Cornersville-Rhett Woodard 7-yard run, PAT NG, 0:59.

Zion Christian-Sam Sullivan 66-yard pass from Mark Lowery, Wes Riggins PAT, 0:11.

Third Quarter

Zion Christian-Warren Riggins 25-yard pass from Mark Lowery, Wes Riggins PAT, 4:33.

Cornersville-Brady Calahan 3-yard run, Brady Calahan 2-pt. run, 3:41.

Fourth Quarter

Zion Christian- Luke Benge 21-yard pass from Mark Lowery, Luke Perko 2-pt pass from Lowery, 9:42.

Cornersville-Cason Warner 1-yard run, run failed, 5:43.

Cornersville-Rhett Woodard 25-yard run, PAT NG, 0:32.

Total Yards: Cornersville 318, Zion 292.

Rushing: Cornersville 258, Zion 57.

Passing: Cornersville 60, Zion 235.

First Downs: Cornersville 23, Zion 17.

Penalties: Cornersville 8-60, Zion 5-30.

Turnovers: Cornersville 0, Zion 0.

Cornersville Offense

Rushing: Cason Warner 11-93-TD, Brady Calahan 15-89-TD, Rhett Woodard 5-44-2TD, Jackson Farler 3-26-TD, Wes Calahan 1-5, Alex Hillard 4-1.

Passing: Jackson Farler 3-8-6-0-0.

Receiving: Jackson Mitchell 1-32, Brady Calhan 1-14, Mason Calahan 1-14.

Kicking

PAT-Jackson Williams 2-3.

Punting: Cameron Estes 2-64.

Returns

Kickoffs: Jackson Mitchell 1-40, Cason Warner 1-25, Rhett Woodard 1-15, Tilden Jackson 1-0.

Punts: Brady Calahan 1-16.

Defense

Tackles: Michael Bungay 4, Eli Welch 4 (1.5 SACK, TFL), Wes Calahan 4, Devon Massengill 3.5 (.5 TFL), Jackson Mitchell 3, Rhett Woodard 1.5, Bryson Alexander 1.5, Blake Jones 1.5 (.5 SACK, .5 TFL), Cameron Estes 1, Boone Solomon 1, Trenton Posey 1, Tilden Jackson 1, Bailey Foss 1, Tracy Wood .5 (.5 TFL).

Final Region 4A Standings

Huntland 7-3, 4-1

Cornersville 7-3, 4-1

Mt. Pleasant 8-2, 3-2

Richland 6-4, 2-3

Moore County 5-5, 2-3

Fayetteville 4-6, 0-5