It wasn’t easy but the Pike County Bulldogs JV team improved its record to 2-0 Tuesday after defeating the Elba Tigers 22-8.

“They were definitely a tougher matchup for us offensively,” said Bulldogs head coach Chad Mansman. “As a team I am proud of our guys for being able to answer. We work hard during the week on what we needed to work on. We still have a lot of things we need to get better at.”

The first half featured a heavy run game for both the Elba Tigers and the Bulldogs. There were only two pass attempts in the opening half, both of them off the arm of Jayden Wilson.

The Bulldogs ran the ball exceptionally well, finishing with a total of 102 yards.

“You have to attribute that to the offensive line,” Mansmann said. “They did a wonderful job. Sometimes they make plays more than the running backs. They are a very smart line, and I attribute tonight to them.”

The Tigers got on the board first when they capitalized on a six-play drive that started on their own 42-yard line. Richmond Singletary was able to close out the drive on a five-yard touchdown run giving the Tigers the lead midway through the second quarter. The Tigers tacked on the two-point conversion to stretch their lead to 8-0.

It didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to respond to the Tiger touchdown. The Bulldogs started their possession on their own 29-yard line. Wilson began the drive with a five yard run followed by a 16-yard run by Darrick Myhand. Rashad Reynolds capped of the scoring drive on the very next play. Reynolds took the handoff from Wilson and scampered to the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs also converted a two-point conversion to even up the game at eight a piece.

Reynolds wasn’t done making plays for the Bulldogs in the first half.

After Elba was able to get a first down on their opening play of the next drive, the Tigers fumbled the ball and Reynolds was there to scoop the ball for the Bulldogs.

A big play happened at the end of the first half with under a minute remaining the Tigers thought they had a 68-yard touchdown run giving them the lead heading into the half. That touchdown was negated after a holding call sending both teams to the locker room tied at 8-8.

Both teams started the second half strong and it wasn’t until late in the third quarter until the Bulldogs were finally able to punch the ball over the goal line. After a seven-play drive, Wilson was able to run from two yards out to give the Bulldogs the lead.

Midway through the final quarter the Tigers faced a pivotal fourth down on their own 33-yard line. The Tigers elected to run the ball up the middle but the Bulldogs stuffed them at the line, turning the ball over on downs.

The Bulldogs put one final nail in the coffin on the next possession. The Bulldogs went on a seven-play drive capped off by a Wilson two-yard touchdown run, securing the game for the Bulldogs.

Reynolds led the Bulldogs in rushing with 107 yards and one touchdown.

Next week these two teams will once again matchup this time in Elba.

“We just have to work on getting in shape and getting more physical on both sides of the ball,” Mansmann said.