LOUISA, Ky. — For three quarters, the Lawrence County Bulldogs offense didn’t flicker.

Once it got ignited, the Bulldogs seemed like they couldn’t stop scoring.

But don’t count out the Coal Grove Hornets defense. The Hornets were able to extinguish the Bulldogs flame at the right time as they took a 28-20 season-opening win over Lawrence County Friday night.

Hornets defensive back Oakie Haynes deflected a pass as time expired with Lawrence County on the Hornets’ 4-yard line.

“We knew going into the game they had the potential to be explosive. Nothing that happened shocked me,” said Hornets coach Dave Lucas.

“Our kids did a nice job of moving the football. But we fumbled twice and turnovers kill you. The turnovers put them back in the ball game.”

The Hornets dominated the game in the first half, rolling up 190 of their 278 total yards. But they lost two fumbles in the fourth quarter that led to Lawrence County touchdowns and put the Hornets in a dogfight.

Coal Grove opened the game with a time-consuming 14-play, 80-yard drive. The key play in the drive was a 49-yard pass from Zack Murphy to Aaron Dickess who made the catch despite the ball being deflected.

Matt Cooper ran 1-yard for the score at the 7:16 mark and it was 6-0.

The Hornets came back to score again just before the end of the quarter on a 7-yard run by Frank Delawder. Zack Murphy tossed to Delawder on the conversion and it was 14-0.

A 4-yard scoring run by Cooper with 2:25 left in the half capped another long drive and Murphy’s conversion run extened the lead to 22-0 at the break.

Delawder’s 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter opened up a comfortable 28-0 lead.

Lawrence County began its comeback to start the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs scored on a 70-yard halfback pass from Mark Fitzpatrick to Timmy Cantrell. Boone Goldsmith threw to Fitzpatrick on the conversion and it was 28-8.

After recovering a Hornets fumble, the Bulldogs scored two minutes later on a flea flicker. Boone Goldsmith hit Fitzpatrick with a swing passs and then Fitzpatrick threw 35 yards to Chandler Shepherd for the score and it was 28-14.

Cody Roberts 4-yard scoring run with 4:03 left cut the deficit to 20-14.

“I was pleased with the way we handled the pressure. Our kids played through a tough stretch physically,” said Lucas.

Lawrence County then drove to the Hornets 4-yard to set up one final play. But Haynes knocked down Goldsmith’s pass to preserve the win.

“I was proud of the way our kids hung in there until the end. They got momentum in the fourth quarter, but I always felt our kids could make a play,” said Lucas.

Dickess seven tackles, forced a fumble and had a sack to lead the Coal Grove defense. Chris Brammer had three tackles, an interception and a pass deflection.

Taylor Dean and Delawder each had a sack in the second quarter.

Coal Grove14860=28

Lawrence Co.00020=20

First Quarter

CG - Matt Cooper 1 run (kick failed) 7:16

CG - Frank Delawder 7 run (Delawder pass from Zack Murphy) 0:27

Second Quarter

CG - Matt Cooper 4 run (Murphy run) 2:25

Third Quarter

CG - Delawder 1 run (kick blocked)

Fourth Quarter

LC -Timmy Cantrell 70 pass from Mark Fitzpatrick (Boone Goldsmith pass to Fitzpatrick) 11:01

LC -Chandler Shepherd 35 pass from Fitzpatrick (run failed) 9:17

LC - Cody Roberts 4 run (pass failed) 4:03

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CGLC

First downs14NA

Rushes-yards47-177NA

Passing yards101NA

Total yards278NA

Cmp-Att-Int5-9-0NA

Penalties3-304-33

Fumbles2-2NA

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING-Coal Grove: Frank Delawder 17-66, Matt Cooper 11-24, Jacob Jenkins 13-84, Shane Jenkins 5-2, Zack Murphy 1-1. Lawrence County: Not available.

PASSING-Zack Murphy 5-9-0 101; Lawrence County: Not available.

RECEIVING-Coal Grove: 1-49, Delawder 4-52; Lawrence County: Not available.