Bulldogs improve to 3-0 with win over Carroll County

TAZEWELL – Mounting a second half rally the Bulldogs wore down a scrappy Carroll County team and claimed a 27-16 victory in the district opener for both teams.
The winless Cavaliers jumped to 16-6 halftime lead before the Bulldogs ran off 21 unanswered points to claim the win. The victory kept Tazewell perfect on the season and Carroll remained winless with the loss.
Tazewell took advantage of a bad snap on a punt for an early 6-0 lead. Getting the ball at the Cavalier 15, Matt Muncy raced untouched to the end zone. That was the last Bulldog score of the first half.
Carroll countered with an eight play 60 yard drive to jump in front. All the yardage came on the ground with Cody Mabe and Dillon Caviness doing most of the work
Blake Bowman got the touchdown on a nine yard scramble.
Tazewell fumbled the kickoff and started its next drive at the two. That possession ended in a blocked punt and a safety. Leading 9-6, the Cavaliers got good field position on the free kick.
It took 10 plays this time but the Cavaliers again marched 60 yards with Caviness getting the score from three yards out. The Cavalier defense had the Bulldogs out of sync for most of the first half.
Tazewell’s John Corner pounced on a fumble at the Carroll 36 but Tazewell was unable to take advantage. The Bulldog defense stood tall for the remainder of the half and the teams went to the dressing room with Carroll up 10.
Tazewell and punched the Cavaliers in the mouth to stat the second half. Stating from the 44, Muncy carried the ball four times for 25 yards. Cody Lockhart connected with Brandon Pauley for 10 yards and then passed to T. J. Rasnick for the score.
Trailing by just two, the ‘dogs took advantage of a Carroll fumble to get the go ahead score. Lockhart escaped the rush, scrambled away and hit Pauley to make it 20-16.