Earle checks into win column

Earle checks into win column

Bulldogs stake claim to Tennessee state title

Sports Editor

Earle didn’t just leave town to pick up its first win of the season, but the state as well.

The Bulldogs made the roughly 190-mile roundtrip trek to Halls, Tennessee on Friday night and while it wasn’t the prettiest game Earle (1-1 overall) and its fans have ever seen or played, it was a 44-35 win that the team needed.

“I’m really proud of how my kids came out and responded the other day against Halls,” said Earle head coach A.C. Coleman.

“We wound up getting into a game against a good team and kept scrapping and fighting all night long. We lost some turnovers that we can’t have early on, and we had some drives that we didn’t score on too.”

Earle trailed 20-8 in the first quarter as Halls scored on its first three possessions, but the Bulldogs scored the last 15 points of the game to come home with a victory.

“We made the decision early in that drive that we would go for two if we scored a touchdown,” explained Coleman. “So that way, we were ready to go if we scored. Luckily, we got it and took the lead and then scored one more time.”

Earle got good performances from junior quarterback Gerry Bohanon, who finished 16 of 28 passing for 232 yards, 2 interceptions and 3 touchdowns while freshman Jaylen Coopwood rushed for over 100 yards.

Each player also had over 10 tackles on defense.

“We played Gerry all over the place on defense,” Coleman said. “Safety, linebacker, defensive line, and he had a great game.

Coopwood was huge for us too.”

In fact, it was the defense that got Earle back into it as that side of the ball scored two times to cut into the lead.

Donerius Crowder returned a fumble 88 yards for a touchdown and Keyshawn Johnson had a 30-yard interception return for a score as Earle’s defenders showed an ability to find the end zone.

The game was played after Rivercrest dropped Earle after a two-year agreement to play a homeand- away series. The Colts wound up playing Valley View last Friday night, while Earle had to find a new opponent.

“They had just as much size as we did, and they had a lot of team speed,” Coleman said. “I mean, we all have speed, of course, but they had it at multiple spots. A few of the people I talked to there said that they benefit from being in between two big cities and kids come there wanting to play.”

Earle will remain on the road next week as it travels to play Mountain View.

The Bulldogs will open their 2016 home schedule at Bulldog Stadium on Friday, September 23 when they play host to the Salem Greyhounds. Kickoff for both games is scheduled for 7 p.m.

By Chuck Livingston