August 23- Friday night lights began at Claiborne High with the Bulldogs doing battle with the Grainger Grizzlies. With a new style of play and new head coach the Bulldogs were anxious to begin the season. Grainger got the football first when Claiborne deferred to the second half. Grainger took 10 plays to get into the CHS red zone but turned it over on downs at the 25 after negative plays.
Bulldogs took over on offense, and two plays later put the ball on the grass, and Grainger fell on it. Grainger took over near the Bulldogs 20-yard line and at 4:33 found the endzone. The point after was good, and the Grizzlies led 7-0.
Isaac Daniels and Kaden Lovin took turns through the air and on the ground and drove into the Grizzlies red zone where the drive stalled on fourth down. The first quarter ended with Grainger leading 7-0 and possession of the football.
The Grizzlies started a drive that ended with a fourth and one near midfield. Grainger did not make the sticks and turned the ball over to CHS. Claiborne drove the ball with Brayden Painter doing the work, and Daniels just missed a big pass play to Corbin Whitaker. The drive ended in Grizz territory on a failed fourth and long. Grainger had an immediate penalty to get them behind the sticks on their next possession, and Roark, alongside Painter, were leading the defense. Patterson then caught a TD pass with 58-seconds left in the half, and following a missed point after, Grainger led 13-0 at the half. At the half, the Grainger and Claiborne bands performed their halftime routines.
As the cheerleaders cheered on the sidelines, the Bulldogs got the ball to start the second half; however, the Bulldogs had to punt, and Grainger had it deep in their own territory. Painter then made a huge stop in the backfield for a 10-yard loss. Grainger punted, and CHS took over on their 28.
Claiborne penalties forced a fourth and 30, but the very next play was once again a Bulldog fumble with Grainger falling on it. From the nine-yard line, Grainger themselves committed a penalty that stalled their advance. Anthony Turner blocked a pass in the endzone which set up a fourth and goal for the Grizzlies. Painter then intercepted a Grainger pass and brought it out to the 17 with 5:40 remaining in the third. He then took a toss and ran enough yards to move the sticks. Claiborne then broke another great run but coughed it up for the third time. Grainger took over but were penalized for holding on first down. Grainger punted, and the Bulldogs next drive continued into the fourth with Grainger still up 13-0.
Painter ran for another first down, covering over 15 years. A Daniels pass to Lovin moved the sticks and put CHS down to the 32-yard line of Grainger. The offense fumbled once again but was able to retain possession. Roark got back to the Grainger 45 and Lovin caught a Daniels pass and traveled over 15-yards for the first down. Roark scored a Bulldogs touchdown with five minutes left in the game and the point after was good,13-7.
A Grainger pass to Fowler and a Taylor run into the endzone was the answer the Grizzlies needed to seal the deal and after a two-point conversion led 21-7. The Bulldogs got the ball back but had little time to work with and although they battled the entire game fell to the Grizz, 21-7. The young football players of the Tazewell Timberwolves and their cheerleaders joined the Bulldogs for pre-game warmups and more. Claiborne travels to Union County next Friday.
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