The Cornersville Bulldogs took a ride up the road to Unionville to face off with the Community Vikings in a non-region season opening contest for both teams.

The Bulldogs, buoyed by a hard-hitting defense and three second half touchdowns by running back Alex Hillard battered the Vikings 36-6 to start the season with a win.

The COVID-9 pandemic has affected and changed all of our daily lives and as the season opening date drew near, many feared that the game would not be played.

Extraordinary measures by school administrators, coaching staffs and of course the young players, prevailed and game proceeded because of the due diligence.

Cornersville had 17 players under quarantine at game time, including four starters.

Temperature checks and face masks were required to gain entrance to the field.

The Cornersville faithful did not let these small inconveniences keep them from seeing their beloved Bulldogs as they filled the stands on the visitor side and lined the fences for a close up look.

Even the coin toss was modified as Cornersville quarterback Jackson Farler was the lone representative at midfield for the Bulldogs.

The Vikings won the toss and elected to receive, starting their initial drive at their own 29-yard line.

Moving the ball to the Unionville 48-yard line, the drive stalled as the Cornersville defense rose up and slammed the Community runner down and the Bulldogs took over on downs.

The Bulldogs ran the ball with Brady Calahan and Cason Warner pounding the Vikings’ line, moving to the Community 24-yard line.

Farler then found a wide open Eli Welch and the big tight end out ran the Vikings’ defense for a touchdown.

Cason Warner pounded across the two-point conversion with 6:03 left in the first quarter and the Bulldogs led 8-0.

The Bulldogs’ defense continued to deny the Vikings any offense as the game moved into the second quarter.

When the Bulldogs regained possession, they moved the ball again as Calahan pounded the rock to the four-yard line.

Hillard ran through the Vikings’ defense for a Bulldogs’ touchdown and Warner once again busted in for the two-point conversion and a 16-0 lead just before the halftime horn sounded.

The third quarter showcased Hillard again as well as a brief rain shower and after its conclusion a power failure left the entire field virtually in the dark for an extended period of time.

After the lights came back on, Hillard continued his assault on the Vikings’ defense as he ran around the left side, gained the corner, and took off down field.

50-yards later, after shaking off an angle tackle by a Viking defender at the 10-yard line, he was in the end zone for the touchdown.

The 2-point conversion failed, but the Bulldogs had padded their lead to 22-0.

Then rain began to fall in earnest and spectators scrambled for cover as play continued.

The rain subsided and the lights flickered and then went dark at the 7:15 mark of the third quarter.

When the lights came back on after roughly 15 minutes, Hillard struck again.

After the Bulldog defense again stymied the Vikings and Cornersville had moved to the Vikings’ 20-yard line, Hillard caught a swing pass from Farlar and scampered into the end zone.

The extra point attempt failed and Cornersville led 28-0.

Hillard was not through though, out running the entire Vikings’ defense to the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown run.

Warner again roared across the line for the 2 pt. conversion and the Bulldogs lead was now 36-0.

The fourth quarter saw the Bulldog defense slamming and gang tackling the Community ball carriers.

With Community threatening to score at the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line in the fourth quarter, Garrett Adler came up with an interception to foil the Vikings scoring attempt.

The Vikings broke the shutout with one minute left in the game when John Stanley hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dallas Grooms, but the 2-point conversion failed.

When the final horn sounded the Cornersville Bulldogs had their opening game victory, 36-6.

The Bulldogs play their first home game Friday night at the friendly confines of Frog Bottom, as they face the non-region opponent Eagleville Eagles (0-1) who lost at home 36-27 to Region 5-A foe Huntland.

Cornersville 8 8 20 0-36

Community 0 0 0 6-6

Scoring Plays

First Quarter

Cornersville-Eli Welch 24-yard pass from Jackson Farler, Cason Warner 2-pt. run, 6:03.

Second Quarter

Cornersville-Alex Hilliard 3-yard run, Warner 2-pt. run, 8:11.

Third Quarter

Cornersville-Hilliard 25-yard pass from Farler, PAT kick NG, 11:07.

Cornersville-Hilliard 51-yard run, PAT kick NG, 2:08.

Fourth Quarter

Community-John Stanley 30-yard pass from Dallas Grooms, 2-pt. pass failed, 1:50.

Total Offense: Cornersville 209, Community 113.

Passing: Cornersville 55, Community 43.

Rushing: Cornersville 154, Community 70.

Penalties: Cornersville 7-50, Community 6-70.

Turnovers: Cornersville 0, Community 3.

First Downs: Cornersville 10, Community 7.

Cornersville Offense

Rushing: Alex Hilliard 4-106-3TD, Brady Calahan 9-34, Cason Warner 2-7, Rhett Woodard 1-2, Jackson Mitchell 1-2, Bradden Hickman 1-(-1), Riley Qualls 1-(-2).

Passing: Jackson Farler 5-11-55-2TD.

Receiving: Alex Hilliard 1-25-TD, Eli Welch 1-24-TD, Tanner Edwards 2-(-11).

Kicking

PAT: Jackson Williams 0-2.

Punting: Jackson Williams 3-84.

Kick Returns

Kickoffs: Bradden Hickman 1-1, David Metcalf 1-0.

Punts: Brady Calahan 2-8, Alex Hilliard 2-0.

Defense

Tackles: Rhett Woodard 6.5 (1.5TFL), Alex Hilliard 4.5 (2TFL), Mason Calahan 3.5, Wesley Pigg 3.5 (.5TFL, INT), Eli Welch 3.5 (TFL), Cason Warner 3.5 (TFL), Hunter Fitzgerald 2, Garrett Adler 2 (INT), Blake Jones 2, Nick Nuenswander 1, Blake Estes 1, Trenton Posey 1, David Metcalf 1, Riley Qualls .5.