PRICEVILLE – The scoreboard read 27-14 in Priceville’s favor when class beauties took to the field for the 2010 homecoming queen crowning Friday night, but unfortunately for the Bulldogs and their fans, the game didn’t end there. The visiting East Lawrence Eagles scored 29 unanswered points in the third period and went on to post a 42-33 win.
The Eagles improved their record to 2-2-overall and 1-2 in 4A, Region 8 competition. Priceville remained winless at 0-4 and 0-3.
“The first half was the best we’ve played all year,” said Priceville head coach Donald Weeks. “We moved the ball with consistency and our defense played well. But we let them get the momentum when they scored on their first possession in the second half and then we fumbled on our first possession and gave them the opportunity they were looking for.
“Our backup quarterback, Ben Patterson, came in and played well in the fourth quarter after Chance (Ellsworth) got hurt, and we fought hard to get back into the game.”
“It’s good to go on the road and get a win,” said E. Lawrence head coach Joe McDaniel. “We put the challenge to our kids at halftime and they came out and played better than they did in the first half. I thought Priceville showed a lot of fight and class in the game. Their coaching staff did a good job getting them ready to play.”
The Bulldogs opened the game by marching 62 yards on 13 plays and scoring on a one-yard run by Chance Ellsworth. Nick Bell booted the extra point to give his team a 7-0 edge with 6:15 left in the first period.
They scored again on their next possession, moving 34 yards on five plays after Trevor Reed recovered an Eagle fumble. Elsworth capped the drive by scoring on an 11-yard run with 3:50 left in the first period. Bell’s kick for the extra point was no good, leaving the score at 13-0.
Forrest Simpson answered by returning the ensuing kickoff 85 yards and putting the visitors on the scoreboard. The score stood at 13-6 with 3:25 left in the first period after a two-point conversion attempt failed.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 19-6 with 11:53 left in the first half by Marching 51 yards on 10 plays and scoring on a 10-yard pass from Elsworth to John Riley Hawkins. Bell’s PAT attempt was no good.
East Lawrence responded with a 57-yard drive on eight plays with Terrence Deloney scoring on a 25-yard run. He ran three yards for a two-point conversion to make the score 19-14 with 4:09 left in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs bit the Eagles again with 14 seconds left in the first half when Elsworth connected with Spencer Scruggs on a two-yard scoring pass. The touchdown capped a 61-yard drive on 12 plays. A pass from Elsworth to Scruggs clicked for a two-point conversion making the score 27-14.
The Eagles cut Priceville’s lead to 26-22 on a two-yard run by Simpson with 10:29 left in the third period and grabbed the lead at 30-27 on a nine-yard run by Deloney with 8:36 left in the same period. They added another touchdown with 5:09 left in the third period on a 17-yard run by Deloney and went up 42-37 on a 39-yad run by Deloney with 2:05 left in the same period.
Priceville marched 62 yards on four plays for its only touchdown in the second half. Zac Smith went in from two yards out with 2:46 left to make the score 42-33.
Elsworth and Patterson combined competed 15 of 25 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Elsworth also rushed for 39 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns before he sustained an ankle injury late in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs face Danville Friday at 7 p.m.