-- — The game did not get off to the best start for the Batesville High School football team, but the end result is what mattered.
The Bulldogs fell behind 7-0 to the Edgewood Mustangs in the first round of the sectional tournament before putting up 31 unanswered points.
The 31-7 win over the Mustangs sets up a rematch with the Greensburg Pirates in the second round on Friday.
The Bulldogs tied the score on a 36 yard run by Matt Linkel in the second quarter. A Mike Hoeing extra point sent Batesville into halftime knotted at 7-7.
The field conditions were sloppy, but it did not seem to slow the Bulldogs in the second half.
Connor Schuck scored on a 4-yard run and threw for another as the BHS lead grew to 21-7. Schuck connected with Hoeing on a 5-yard scoring play late in the third quarter.
Dylan Cook added to the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter followed later by a 44-yard field goal by Hoeing.
The Bulldogs racked up 282 yards on the ground and 50 through the air.
Linkel led the ground game with 117 yards rushing on 12 carries. Cook was not far behind with 11 attempts for 87 yards.
Hoeing caught three Schuck passes for a total of 23 yards, while Bo Gowan hauled in one for 19 yards and Cook had one for eight.
Defensively, lineman Aaron Stirn had a big night with four tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. He finished with five solo tackles and four assists.
Colin Brown was second on the team with one solo tackle and nine assists, while Cody Haakinson had one solo and seven assists. Gowan also had one interception.
The Bulldogs improved to 5-5 on the season and will play at Greensburg this Friday. The Pirates (8-2) won the first meeting by a score of 34-0.
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