Updated 

Trion’s season came to an end on Friday evening as they hosted Irwin County at Sam R. McCain Stadium. Final score was 40-30 in the Class A Division II quarterfinals. The Bulldogs fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to a 40-30 defeat, concluding their season with a record of 10-3.

The game turned in the second half as the visiting Irwin County Indians, now boasting an impressive record of 12-1, unleashed a powerful ground game that overwhelmed Trion’s defense. Despite the Bulldogs’ focused efforts on containing Shane Marshall, a standout rusher committed to Minnesota and a force with 1,600 rushing yards and nearly 20 touchdowns this season, it was Irwin’s fullback Jason Jackson who stole the show. Jackson’s remarkable performance included three long touchdown runs of 24, 60, and 76 yards, propelling the Indians to a commanding 21-10 lead by halftime.

The Bulldogs managed to tie the game early on with a 3-yard touchdown run from Logan Stokes, but the momentum quickly shifted as Irwin County surged ahead. After halftime, the relentless Irwin County offense continued to wear down Trion’s defense. Marshall contributed with impactful touchdown runs of 65 and 2 yards, further extending the Indians’ lead and leaving the Bulldogs scrambling to respond. Despite the scoreboard, Trion showcased their resilience. Stokes added another touchdown run, and Christian Henderson found the end zone as well. In a poignant moment marking the end of his high school career, Kade Smith connected on a touchdown pass to Ethan Willingham, bringing a spark of hope to the Trion faithful.

As the final whistle blew, it was clear that while the Bulldogs fell short, their determination and teamwork defined their season.