CELINA-Clay County won the annual battle of the Bulldogs against Red Boiling Springs 26-6 here Friday night.

Clay County led 6-0 after one period on a 66-yard run by Shawn Garrett, and scored two more times in the final minutes before the half to take control of the game.

Senior fullback Nick Stephens smashed in from seven yards out with 5:39 left in the second quarter and Nick Cox added the two-point conversion run to make it 14-0. That Clay County drive covered 94 yards in 10 plays, and was set in motion on a fumble recovery by Cox at the CCHS six. A 33-yard completion from Marshall Burch to Garrett was the big play on that drive. 

Cox added another crucial score on a one-yard dive with only 48.7 seconds left before intermission. His 57-yard run was the key play in that drive. It was 20-0 at intermission.

The second half was played largely between the 20-yard lines, with each team scoring in the final period. Brandon Kelly, who rushed for 72 yards and caught four passes for 31 yards, scored the RBS touchdown with 4:21 left, while Stephens added another TD on a one-yard run in the closing seconds. 

Cox had a big all-around night for CCHS, rushing seven times for 86 yards (all in the first half), intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble. He was injured while making the return on his second interception late in the third quarter and did not return to action. 

Clay County improved to 3-1 (2-1 in region play), while RBS fell to 2-2 (1-2). CCHS will host defending state champ Trousdale County next week, while Red Boiling will host Sunbright.