By Ed Greif

The Rockwood Tigers moved one step closer to hosting a first-round Class AA playoff game with a 40-12 victory over the Wartburg Central Bulldogs Friday night.

Rockwood rushed for 411 yards on 58 carries and passed for 83 yards on 4-of-8 passes, while the Bulldogs rushed for 104 yards on 31 carries and completed 15-of-28 passes for 183 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Zander Price rushed for 206 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns, while Ryan McCain picked up 82 yards on 16 carries and Joe Ashburn collected 77 yard on 14 rushes. Trey Treadway caught one pass for eight yards, McCain had one catch for 16 yards and Price caught one pass for nine yards.

The Tiger defense picked off three Bulldog passes - Treadway (2-for-38 yards) and McCain (1-for-23, TD) and one fumble recovery by Ashburn. The defense recorded six tackles for minus 41 yards.

After a short kickoff return by McCain, the Tigers took over at their 32-yard line. The running of McCain, Price and Ashburn moved the ball deep into Bulldog territory, but Brackett fumbled at the Wartburg 7-yard line.

The Bulldogs used a mixture of running and passing to advance the football in to Rockwood territory. Quarterback Tyler Davis completed 4-of-6 passes for 27 yards, while Josh Moore rushed for 12 yards on four carries; however, a halfback pass by Moore was picked off by Treadway.

Rockwood then went three plays and out, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs at the Tiger 37; however, the Tiger defense stymied the Wartburg offense, forcing a 26-yard field goal by Davis which was no good with 50 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Tiger offense took over at their 20, a 29-yard run by Price and a short run by Ashburn ended the first quarter with a 0-0 tie. Five plays later, McCain scored from six yards out to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead with 9:57 left in the half. Treadway booted the PAT for the 7-0 advantage.

Warburg took the ensuing kick at their 35 and scored two plays later on a 79-yard pass from Davis to Dakota Smith with 9:11 remaining the half. The PAT was no good, leaving the score at 7-6.

A 13-yard kickoff return by Price gave the Tigers the ball at their 33. Six running plays by Price, Ashburn, McCain and Brackett moved the ball into Bulldog territory. A 16-yard pass from Brackett to McCain set up Caleb Bowen’s 9-yard TD run, but Treadway’s PAT failed, leaving Coach John Webb’s team ahead 13-6.

Moore returned the ensuing kick 22 yards to the Rockwood 48, but Treadway picked off Davis for a 33-yard return. Five plays later, Price scored from two yards away for a 19-6 lead, but the 2-point conversion failed. Price had three carries for 19 yards.

A 16-yard return by Smith put the ball at the Bulldog 44, but the Tigers held the hosts to four plays and out, thinks to a sack by Tristan Tinker; however, the Tigers went three plays and out. Davis tossed an incomplete pass to end the half.

Rockwood had 218 yards rushing and 33 yards passing on 3-of-6 passes, but was penalized five times for 50 yards, while Wartburg had eight yards rushing and 116 yards passing (6-of-13 with two PICs) and one penalty for 15 yards.

Warburg took the ensuing kick at their 27 and moved the ball on the running of Smith, Keith Haynes and Moore; however, the Tigers stopped the Bulldogs on downs at the Rockwood 40.

The Tigers’ running attack of McCain, Ashburn, Price and Bowen picked up two first downs, before being stopped on downs on an incomplete pass at the Bulldog 30. Davis completed two of six passes for 26 yards to set up a 45-yard run by Moore for a Bulldog touchdown. The two-point conversion, as the Bulldogs trailed 19-12 with 3:37 left in the third quarter.

A short kickoff return by Treadway gave the Tigers to the ball at their 43. Two plays later, Ashburn raced 48 yards to give his team a 25-12 lead. Treadway’s PAT made it 26-12 with 2:52 left in the third quarter.

Warburg took over at their 43, but four plays later, Ashburn recovered a fumble a the Tiger 48-yard line. Price was credited with a 30-yard run, but the Tigers were penalties 15 yards to Bulldog 37 as the third quarter ended.

Three plays later, Price rambled 41 yards for a TD with 10:42 left in the game for a 32-12 lead. Treadway’s PAT made it 33-12.

Wartburg took the ball at their 37, but the Tigers recorded two quarterback sacks for minus 11 yards. McCain then picked off Davis for a 23-yard TD. Treadway’s PAT made it 40-12 with 9:26 left in the game.

The Bulldogs took over at their 29 and picked up two first downs - one on a Tiger penalty and the other on a 21-yard run by Moore; however, the Tigers stopped the ‘Dawgs on downs at the Tiger 34-yard line.

Tiger running backs Abe Gaskins, Tre’ Falls, Bowen, Gavin Evans and Jack Alexander picked up 29 yards on eight carries, despite being whistled four times for 45 yards, before being stopped on downs at the Bulldog 47. Davis completed 5-of-6 passes for 30 yards with one first down on another Tiger penalty in the final minutes of the game.

Rockwood will travel to Hancock this week, before closing out the regular season Oct. 27 against Cumberland Gap on homecoming and senior night.