In a tough defensive battle, it was a six-yard Bradley Horne scamper into the end zone that put the only points on the board in a 7-0 Geneva win over Pike County High School Friday night.

Both teams finished with 177 yards of offense and both reached the redzone only once, but it was the Panthers who made their trip inside the 20 count.

The Bulldogs (5-4, 5-2 AHSAA Class 3A, Region 2) had some turnover trouble and some costly penalties that contributed to the loss.

“We had three turnovers in the first half,” Pike County head coach Brad Waggoner said, “Any time you have that many turnovers in the first half against a good team like Geneva you’re going to be in trouble.”

The turnovers came off two fumbles and botched snap on a punt.

The ‘Dawgs also had four penalties for 25 yards.

Neither offense could get things going during the matchup in Bulldog Stadium.

The teams traded possessions throughout the first half and were knotted at 0-0 at the half.

Pike County got the ball to start the second half, but stalled at their own 49.

Geneva took over at their own 42 and went to work.

The Panthers ran down the clock in a methodical 11-play drive that took five minutes off the clock before Horne took the naked bootleg in for the touchdown.

“You’ve got to give Geneva credit for hanging in there all night long and making the play when they had to,” Waggoner said.

In the back-and-forth battle, Pike County got the ball four more times, but each time saw their offense stall.

“We are disappointed with the mistakes during the game, but we have to put it behind us and get ready for the playoffs,” Waggoner said.

Gerald Adams led the Bulldogs. Adams had eight carries for 47 yards and CC Griffin added seven rushes for 44 yards.

On defense, Eddie Carter had 15 tackles while Elijah Caple had 13 tackles including two sacks.

Horne led Geneva, as he was 6-of-7 through the air for 37 yards along with his touchdown run.

Pike County is off until the first round of the playoffs Nov. 7. The Bulldogs will head to Waggoner’s old stomping grounds in Luverne for a battle with the Region 1 No. 2 seed Tigers.