TRION, Ga. - If Justin Brown were asked to provide material for a time capsule that summed up this year's Trion High School football team, the coach would likely start with video of Friday night's game.
After being shut out a week ago, the Bulldogs physically dominated offensively depleted Christian Heritage, rolling up 270 rushing yards in a 26-7 win.
Trion (5-2, 2-2 Region 6A-A) held the Lions, who were playing without quarterback Matthew Neff and tailback Gage Leonard, both out with injuries, to a mere 108 total yards.
"We are at our best when we play physical and are able to get our guys firing off the ball," Brown said. "I thought our backs and our line really blocked well for each other. We did a good job holding on to the football, and we controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides."
Christian Heritage (5-2, 1-2) had success early, going 66 yards on its first drive that was capped by Ethan Smith's 19-yard touchdown that set up a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter. The Lions got only one more first down, though, as the Trion defense locked down their running game and dared them to throw the ball.
After intercepting a pass to start the second quarter, Trion moved to the Christian Heritage 1, but Syd Reece's tackle for loss set up fourth-and-two, and quarterback Lincoln Maddux was held a yard short to force a turnover on downs. Two plays later, though, Christian Heritage's Smith was tackled in the end zone to cut the Lions' lead to 7-5.
The Bulldogs set up at the 49 after the free kick, and Maddux hit consecutive passes for 27 yards to Hagen Willingham, who two plays later sprinted in from the 18 for the touchdown that set up a 12-7 lead.
"We were fired up after getting stopped there because nobody wants to get stopped on the 1-yard line," said Willingham, who had a game-high 113 yards on 17 carries. "We didn't get stopped again after that. Our line blocked well and we just played hard. It's always the game plan to play more physical than our opponent. It's just who we are."
Trion kept the momentum rolling in the second half, putting together two long scoring drives and running 32 plays to just 12 for the visitors.
Willingham, Braden Johnson - who finished with 88 yards on 20 carries - and Chris Pace took turns making impressive runs on a 60-yard drive. The Bulldogs overcame a first-and-goal from the 27 after a pair of penalties, with Pace going for 14 and Willingham driving a dagger into the Lions with an 11-yard touchdown run that set up a 19-7 lead.
The Bulldogs later put together a masterful 17-play drive that started with 1:05 left in the third quarter and ended with 2:50 remaining in the game when Bryce Wallin scored from a yard out.
"That fourth quarter drive was Trion football," Brown beamed. "It seemed like it took the whole fourth quarter.
"Lincoln made some good decisions tonight and threw the ball well for us, and our backs - Hagen, Johnson and Pace - ran hard. We knew we were going to have to play hard because Christian Heritage is so much improved. I hate it that their quarterback was out tonight, and hopefully they get him back in there real soon. My guys just played their hearts out tonight."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.