CHAPEL HILL — The Forrest Rockets and Eagleville Eagles both started strong on Friday night in their season opener at The Rock, However, the Eagleville defense had a tough time holding the Rockets back, especially in the second half, as Forrest claimed the opener, 55-24.
Forrest seniors Chris Davis and Tayton Swift, each had an outstanding night with a total of 248 yards, quickly moved the ball down the field, with Liam Bell getting the first touchdown of the game seven minutes in on a one-yard dart across the goal line.
It didn’t take long for the Eagles to respond.
Elijah Fearns was unstoppable as he ran for a 98-yard kickoff return.
Kolton Daniel completed the two-point conversion, giving Eagleville their only lead of the night.
Soon after, in an emotional turn of events for the Rockets, Forrest senior Brenton Burchell went down with a leg injury on a short carry.
Following the 30-minute delay, the Rockets showed their tenacity. Swift returned to the field with a 57-yard carry and Davis following up with a 10-yard dash to the end zone.
Adding the Gavin Grissom extra point, Rockets lead 14-8 with 3:16 left in the first quarter.
Eagleville couldn’t round out the quarter, though.
On a fourth down with only 1:10 remaining, an Eagle punt was returned 59 yards by Eli Bell, with the momentum rising for the Rockets.
The Eagles weren’t going to back down so easily.
Just under three minutes into the second quarter, quarterback Jesse Brown completed a 67-yard pass to Fearns and Cade Pippenger tacking on the two-point conversion.
Forrest worked its way up the field over the next several minutes of the second quarter, resulting in a Grissom field goal to keep the Rockets ahead at 24-16. Quarterback Ryan Hill kept it going with only 41 seconds left in the half by completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Carson Yates, giving Forrest a strong lead going into the half.
At the half, Swift led with eight carries for a total of 154 yards.
Entering third quarter, things seemed hopeful for the Eagles.
Yet again, on a 20-yard pass from Brown to Fearns in addition to the two-point conversion pass to Daniel, the Eagles made it a one-possession game.
But, that’s where it ended for Eagleville.
After neither team could convert, the Rockets started to roll again, beginning with an interception by Tyler Ayers, who had a good third quarter including a pass breakup.
From there, the Rockets made it into field goal range thanks to a couple of carries by Swift.
As he did all evening, Grissom came through with the 20-yard field goal attempt, putting Forrest up by 10.
Forrest stayed on fire throughout the fourth quarter.
Davis and Swift had a pair of strong carries, moving Hill into position to score just one minute in. After a round of incomplete passes and a turnover on downs from Eagleville, Bell and Cohen Grissom kept up the streak by going on a 59-yard run and 66-yard run respectively.
With one rivalry game out of the way, the Rockets now set their sights on county rival Cornersville on Friday night.
Kickoff against the Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. in Cornersville.

Forrest 21 10 3 21 — 55
Eagleville 8 8 8 0 — 24

First Quarter
F — Liam Bell 1 run, (Gavin Grissom kick), 5:07.
E — Elijah Fearns 98 kickoff return, (Kolton Daniel 2pt. run), 4:51.
F — Chris Davis 10 run, (G. Grissom kick), 3:16.
F — Eli Bell 53 punt return, (G. Grissom kick), 0:47.
Second Quarter
E — Fearns 67 pass (Cade Pippenger 2pt. run), 9:29.
F — Grissom 30 field goal, 4:29.
F — Carson Yates 19 pass (G. Grissom kick), 0:41.
Third Quarter
E — Fearns 20 pass (Colton Daniel 2pt. Pass), 6:35
F — Grissom 20 field goal, 2:12
Fourth Quarter
F — Ryan Hill 1 run (Grissom kick), 10:54.
F — Bell 59 run (Grissom kick), 7:04.
F — Cohen Grissom 66 run (G. Grissom kick), 2:48.