The Cornersville Bulldogs (4-2, 2-0) took the trip to Lincoln County where they faced the Fayetteville City School Tigers (6-0,4-0) with first place in Region 5-A on the line.

In a bruising football game with numerous penalties on both teams and big plays from each, the Tigers used a 91-yard run in the fourth quarter by Jacious Clark from their own one-yard line that led to a go-ahead touchdown as Fayetteville came away with a 28-14 victory and the region title.

Until Clark’s run, the Tigers and Bulldogs stared eye-to-eye and the game was very much within each team’s grasp.

Clark, who rushed for 239 yards on 17 carries, began the Tigers’ first possession with runs of 26, 14, three, and five yards to move the ball to the Bulldogs’ 25-yard line.

The Bulldogs’ defense stiffened, held the Tigers and took over on downs after Fayetteville quarterback Jacob Medlen’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

The Bulldogs could do little against the big Tiger defense, but caught a break on fourth-and-one when Fayetteville was flagged for encroachment, giving Cornersville a first down.

Cornersville struck a big play as Alex Hillard caught a Jackson Farler pass for an apparent 59-yard touchdown, but the Bulldogs were guilty of a holding penalty.

Set back to the Bulldogs’ 32-yard line, Cornersville could only move to the 38-yard line where Cameron Estes punted the ball to Fayetteville.

The Tigers took the ball and on consecutive fourth-and-one downs, made both as they pushed the ball down the field to the 32-yard line.

Medlen heaved a pass toward the Bulldog end zone, but Estes leaped high in the air to intercept the ball and halt the Tigers’ drive as the scoreless first quarter ended.

The Bulldogs began the second quarter after Estes’ interception at their own 13-yard line.

A loss on first down put the Bulldogs in the hole, but on third-and-15 the Tigers were guilty of pass interference, giving Cornersville a first down at the 38-yard line.

A five-yard loss on first down and two incompletions meant another Estes punt.

The Tigers took over at their own 32-yard line, but on third-and-eight the Bulldog secondary struck again as Hillard intercepted a Medlen throw and the Bulldogs were in business at Fayetteville’s 33-yard line.

Runs by Cason Warner and Brady Calahan moved the ball to the Tigers’ 28-yard line, but on fourth-and-four Farler was stopped short and the Tigers took over on downs.

The Tigers’ offense again was stopped by the Bulldogs defense and Cornersville got the ball back after a Tate Tuten punt that carried to the Bulldogs’ 46-yard line with 3:14 left in the first half.

On third-and-15, Farler’s pass was intercepted by Graham Pace and he returned it to the Bulldogs’ 37-yard line.

On first down, Clark got loose and streaked to the end zone for a touchdown and with Eli Young’s successful extra point kick with 1:15 left in the half, Fayetteville led 7- 0.

The Bulldogs had one last gasp at the end of the first half when Farler’s pass found Hillard down the middle of the field to the Tiger eight-yard line, but time expired.

The Bulldogs received the second half kickoff and started at their own 21-yard line.

Runs by Warner and Brady Calahan netted a first down at the Tigers’ 36-yard line before an end around by Hillard resulted in a 64-yard touchdown.

Williams’ kick was good and the game was tied at 7-7 with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Romello Twitty took the ensuing kickoff and wound his way up field for 46 yards, moving the ball to the Bulldogs’ 30-yard line.

Clark ripped off 19 yards, Pace and Twitty ran for 10 more yards and the ball was at the Bulldogs’ one-yard line where Clark roared across for the touchdown.

Young’s extra point made it a 14-7 contest.

The Bulldogs began a 10-play drive from their own 40-yard line, keeping the ball on the ground with runs by Calahan, Warner, and Farler that moved the ball to the Tiger’s 28-yard line.

An offensive chop block penalty moved the ball back to the Tiger’s 40 and the Bulldogs faced a second-and-27.

Farler’s downfield pass was tipped by the Tiger defenders and dropped into Hillard hands, who turned and ran into the end zone for the touchdown.

Williams’ kick was good and the game was tied at 14 with 3:38 left in the third quarter.

Fayetteville took the kickoff and as the quarter ended, the Tigers faced a third-and-four from the Bulldogs’ 35-yard line

Beginning play in the fourth quarter, the Tigers again called on Clark, who responded by carrying the ball on four straight runs to push the ball down field.

Pace carried the ball into the end zone and with the extra point by Young the score was 21-14.

Hillard, flashing his speed on the kickoff, carried the kick back 18 yards to the Tigers’ 40-yard line.

With Calahan and Warner pounding the ball, the Bulldogs moved to the Tigers’ 27-yard line when another chop block penalty moved the ball back to the 41-yard line.

The Bulldogs could not pull themselves out of the hole and were forced to punt.

Estes’ punt rolled to the Tigers’ one-yard line where Clark made the play of the game on the next snap.

From the Wildcat formation, Clark took the ball around his right side, found the corner and was streaking down the sidelines, being pushed out of bounds by Hillard and Warner at the 8-yard line.

“That play kind of took the air out of us,” Cornersville coach Gerard Randolph said. “We had them pinned down (at the one-yard line).”

Pace burst through the line for the touchdown and with the PAT kick the Tigers led 28-14 with 6:23 left in the game.

Cornersville took the kickoff, but on second-and-seven, Farler’s pass was picked off at the Bulldogs’ 46-yard line.

Fayetteville, knowing time was on their side ran the ball, but were hampered by an unsportsmanlike penalty and a substitution penalty and were forced to punt the ball back to the Bulldogs.

Trailing by 14 points, the Bulldogs were forced to pass and the Tiger secondary played deeper and thwarted the effort to force another Bulldog punt.

“We tried our best, but they are a good football team,” Hillard said.

“They are undefeated and there is a reason, they are a good football team,” Randolph said. “They took away some things we wanted to do and made us pass the ball more than we wanted to.”

The number-10 ranked Bulldogs have a bye week before getting ready for another Region 5-A battle with longtime foe Richland.

On a very sad note, Fayetteville senior Tate Tuten was killed in a car accident on Saturday.

Cornersville 0 0 14 0-14

Fayetteville 0 7 7 14-28

Scoring Plays

Second Quarter

Fayetteville-Jacious Clark 37-yard run, Eli Young PAT, 1:15.

Third Quarter

Cornersville-Alex Hillard 64-yard run, Jackson Williams PAT, 9:38.

Fayetteville- Jacious Clark 1-yard run, Eli Young PAT, 7:53.

Cornersville-Alex Hillard 43-yard pass from Jackson Farler, Jackson Williams PAT, 3:38.

Fourth Quarter

Fayetteville- Graham Pace 19-yard run, Eli Young PAT, 11:18.

Fayetteville- Graham Pace 5-yard run, Eli Young PAT, 6:23.

Total Offense: Cornersville 269, Fayetteville 335.

Rushing: Cornersville 159, Fayetteville 290.

Passing: Cornersville 110, Fayetteville 45.

First Downs: Cornersville 13, Fayetteville 16.

Penalties: Cornersville 8-90, Fayetteville 10-90.

Turnovers: Cornersville 2, Fayetteville 2.

Cornersville Offense

Rushing: Alex Hillard 4-80-TD, Cason Warner 9-34, Wes Calahan 4-26, Brady Calahan 10-24, Rhett Woodard 1-1, Jackson Farler 5-(-6).

Passing: Jackson Farler 8-21-110-TD-2 INT.

Receiving: Alex Hillard 3-97-TD, Tanner Edwards 106, Brady Calahan 2-5, Eli Welch 2-2.

Kicking

PAT: Jackson Williams 2-2.

Punting: Cameron Estes 4-121.

Returns

Kickoffs: Alex Hillard 5-51.

Punts: Brady Calahan 2-20.

Defense

Tackles: Rhett Woodard 6.5 (2TFL), Devon Massengill 5.5 (2.5TFL), Cason Warner 5.5, Mason Calahan 3, Alex Hillard 3 (INT), Cameron Estes 2 (INT), Michael Bungay 2 (SACK, TFL), Jackson Mitchell 1.5, Eli Welch 1.5, Tracy Wood 1.5 (.5TFL), Hunter Fitzgerald 1, Bryson Alexander 1, Houston Williams 1, Boone Solomon .5, Tanner Edwards .5, Dylan Baus .5, Trenton Posey .5.