The Clinton County Bulldogs traveled to Edmonson County Friday night to take on the Wildcats in the first round of the playoffs.

Clinton County, the number four seed in the district, went up against the number one seeded team in the district. As the final buzzer sounded, Clinton County ended its season with a 26-12 loss.

The Dawgs finish the season with a 2-3 record.

“The season didn’t end the way we, as a staff, had hoped, but we couldn’t be more proud of the effort of our Dawgs’ Friday night and, really, the season as a whole. With all they have been through with COVID cancelled games, long breaks in between games, and being the four seed going up against the number one seed Edmonson County in the playoffs, as always, our team played with the Dawgs mentality,” Head Coach Rocky Tallent said.

The Dawgs came out hot and took an early 6-0 lead and held the lead 6-3 until midway through the second quarter.

“After going down 9-6, we marched the length of the field and were victims of one of the worst calls/ turn of events that many of the fans and me and my staff had ever witnessed in high school football,” Tallent said. “We caught a ball in the end zone which should have given us the lead right before halftime ,only to see it go the other way somehow on an interception call and a touchdown for Edmonson County.”

Clinton County trailed at the half, 16-6, and fought hard until the final whistle, coming up short, 26-12.

“We played a great game and the game plan we had in place worked for the majority of the night, but in the end some unfortunate bounces of the ball and a few, let’s say missed, calls lead to the end of our season. I could not be more proud of a group and I hope that parents coaches and players fell blessed to have the five games that we got to play this season,” Tallent said. “It was a season like none other, full of struggles on and off the field, but through it all, my Dawgs fought until the bitter end.”

Chase Stines went 20-40 for 218 yards passing and two touchdowns and two interceptions. Stines also added 19 attempts for 130 yards rushing. Malachi Upchurch added seven carries for 15 yards on the ground. Bryson Cross lead the Dawgs in receiving with eight catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. Nick Brown added eight catches for 52 yards, Adam Herald had two catches for 30 yards and Blake Melton had one catch for six yards and a touchdown. Malachi Upchurch added one catch for five yards.

On the defensive side of the ball the Dawgs were led by Landon Brown and Cross, with both having 11 total tackles each. Stines had nine tackles and Travis Martin had eight tackles. Cole Neutzman finished with seven tackles and one sack. Evan Little and Bentley Boils both added six tackles. Little had a fumble recovery as well. Nick Delk and Adam Herald had 0.5 sacks each and Malachi Upchurch forced a fumble.

Chase Stines ran the football during Clinton County’s district opener Friday night. Clinton County lost the game by a final score of, 26-12, and ended its season with a 2-3 record.