The Trion Bulldogs got back in the win column Friday night, going on the road to Rossville and defeating the Ridgeland Panthers 38-24 in a non-region matchup.

The victory moves Trion to 2-1 on the season and gives the Bulldogs a strong response following last week’s 31-7 loss to Model.

Friday night’s game was much more competitive than the final margin might suggest, particularly during the first half. Ridgeland was able to answer Trion early, but the Bulldogs repeatedly found ways to stay in front and eventually created the separation they needed.

Trion held a 21-14 advantage during the second quarter before adding a field goal to stretch the lead to 24-14 before halftime.

The Panthers remained within striking distance as the teams moved into the second half, but Trion continued to put points on the board.

The Bulldogs extended their advantage to 31-17 in the third quarter, putting Ridgeland in the position of having to play from behind as the game moved toward the final period.

Trion then added another touchdown to take a 38-17 fourth-quarter lead, its largest advantage of the night.

Ridgeland continued to battle and scored again in the fourth quarter, cutting the margin to 38-24, but the Panthers were unable to get any closer.

The win gives Head Coach Sean Patrick’s Bulldogs some momentum heading into another road game next week.

Trion opened the 2026 season with an impressive 36-7 victory over Gordon Lee before falling 31-7 to Model in its second game. Friday night’s win at Ridgeland puts the Bulldogs back above .500 at 2-1.

The Bulldogs entered Friday night’s game with Landon Kimbell leading the ground attack, averaging 110.5 rushing yards per game through the first two contests. Linc Allen had accounted for four touchdowns through the first two games, while Hudson Thomas was leading the defense with nine tackles per game.

The matchup also presented an interesting contrast in classification. Trion competes in Class A, while Ridgeland is a Class AAAA program. Despite playing the larger school on the road, the Bulldogs were able to generate enough offense to score 38 points and come away with the victory.

Trion will remain on the road next Friday, September 11, when the Bulldogs travel to Trenton to take on the Dade County Wolverines. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM. The game with Dade County is also a non-region contest. Trion’s Region 7-A schedule begins later in the season.

With Friday night’s win, Trion has now scored 81 points through its first three games, while allowing 62.