Earle notches second-round victory in state playoffs

Earle notches second-round victory in state playoffs

Bulldogs come out victori-ous over Murfreesboro to

extend season

sports@theeveningtimes.com

The Earle Bulldogs kept their championship hopes alive by defeating Murfreesboro 52-42 in their second game of the playoffs.

The Bulldogs, who improved to 9-3 overall on the season, caught fire behind their junior quarterback Gerry Bohannon.

Bohannon completed 11 of 21 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback also rushed for 162 yards on 14 carries, scoring twice.

Earle started the game scoring early and often, leading 30-16 at the half.

The teams opened the second half by exchanging touchdowns. Murfreesboro then made it a one-possession game by scoring 20 points while holding Earle to 14, bringing the score to 44-36 in favor of the Bulldogs with nine minutes left in the game.

The Bulldogs anchored down on defense in the fourth quarter and were able to hold Murfreesboro to only one more touchdown as their offense was able to seal the game with a rushing score in the final minute of the game.

Keeping teams out of the end zone is nothing new for an Earle defense which has only allowed 207 points on the season.

Cordell Chase lead the team with 15 tackles.

Shurn Dunn and Gerry Bohannon also contributed 13 and 10 tackles, respectively, to the Bulldogs playoff win.

Earle running back, Trevon Reel, served as a punishing force on the ground for the Bulldogs.

The junior wore down the Murfreesboro defense by rushing 22 times for 229 yards and one touchdown.

Joshua Bunton led Earle in receiving by hauling in seven passes for 219 yards and finding pay dirt three times.

Earle assistant coach, Carl Miller, expressed his pleasure in his team's ability to move the ball on the ground.

“The passing game was good but the run game was great, and the line played really good also,” Miller said.

The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them this week as they travel to England, Arkansas, to face the Class 2A favorite England Lions in the Class 2A quarterfinal game. The Lions are 13-0 so far this season.

“We have to play well on defense, not turn the ball over and play Bulldog football,” Miller said. “I think our tough non-conference schedule comes into play now so playing on the road doesn't affect us at all.”

Miller remains confident about the Bulldogs championship chances going into the tough matchup.

“I think the team is playing good at the right time and we are healthy as a team at the right time. I like our chances of winning it all,” Miller said.

The quarterfinal game will kick-off this Friday at 7 p.m. in England, Arkansas.

By Collins Peeples