The Pike County Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-0 first half lead and rode it all the way to a 14-7 win over Geneva on Friday night in Brundidge.

The win for the Bulldogs improves their overall record to 3-0. They are 2-0 in region play.

“I am proud of our guys for pulling it out,” said head coach Fred Holland. “It was a tough region win. I knew it would be tough. Proud of the kids for fighting through it and accomplishing what they did.”

Points were hard to come by for both teams in the first half. Geneva had four possessions compared to three by the Bulldogs. It was the Bulldogs that finished the first half with the lead.

After not picking up a first down in their first two possessions of the ball game, the Bulldogs had their first chance of the game to put points on the board on their next possession. They drove the ball deep into Panther territory before throwing an interception in the end zone.

The Bulldogs had their best drive of the half on their next possession. The drive lasted nine plays and the Bulldogs went a total of 74 yards. Daquavious Coleman scrambled away from defenders before finding K’Ahriyus Pennington in the endzone for the game’s first touchdown. The extra point was blocked and the Patriots took the game’s first lead at 6-0 with under a minute remaining in the half.

Both teams traded turnovers to begin the second half. After a Pike County fumble, Reynolds intercepted a pass to give the Bulldogs possession at their own 10.

10 plays later, Reynolds finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run. After Reynolds tacked on the two-point conversion, the Bulldogs led 14-0 with 2:41 remaining in the third quarter.

The Panthers answered on their next possession. They marched 55 yards down the field on 14 players to cut their deficit in half at 14-7 with 7:16 remaining in the game.

The Bulldogs turned the ball over for the third time midway through the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs defense got the football right back when the Panthers fumbled the ball at midfield.

Geneva got the ball back one final time with 1:52 remaining in the game, but penalties derailed any hope of a comeback.

The Bulldogs will be back in action next week when they travel to take on Wicksburg.

“You have to come out ready to play,” Holland said. “We came out a little flat. They made some plays and we made some plays. We had some execution problems, hopefully we can solve them. I am proud of the win, but I am proud of my guys.” ­