NEW CHAPEL HILL — The halftime speech must have hit home with the Bulldogs.
The Chapel Hill Bulldogs used a ground attack to dominate in the second half, as they amassed 538 rushing to defeat Lindale 56-37 in opening game of the 2013 football season at Bulldog Stadium.
The Bulldogs had three rushers go over the century with Jesse Mumphrey leading the way with 153 yards, all coming in the second half, while scoring two touchdowns.
Lindale’s last lead came at the 11:48 mark of the first half when Nash Walters found Nathan Evans with a 9-yard touchdown. Walters’ run for two gave the Eagles a 17-14 lead.
The Bulldogs eventually took the lead for good with 48 seconds left in the opening half when Joseph Clark burst out of the pack to race 41 yards for a touchdown and after Johnny Bonilla’s extra point the Chapel Hill advantage was 21-17..
Lindale received the kickoff in the second half and moved 40 yards down the field before Mikey McCollister recovered an Eagle fumble. The Bulldogs were in business and the CH marched 72 yards on six plays with Mumphrey taking it in from 3-yards out.
Clark added 110 yards on just eight carries and Wesley Thompson contributed 137 yards on the ground for Chapel Hill. Thompson had an electrifying 66 yards in the first quarter and a 3-yards burst in the third period. .
The Eagles received two passing touchdowns each from David Slice and Nash Walters.
Wide receiver Kolton Pierce caught two fourth quarter scoring passes from each quarterback.
Bulldog quarterback Andrew Black found Gabriel Robinson for three yards for the only Bulldog throwing touchdown.
Malik Walker raced 28 yards down the home sideline to finish out the scoring for the Bulldogs.
Court Brown ended the scoring of the long game as he caught a 19-yard pass from Slice with 42 seconds left in the contest.
Kenyotta Henderson added a 3-yard score for the Bulldogs.
Chapel Hill plays Whitehouse Thursday on Earl Campbell Field at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.
Aaron Jackson had an interception for Lindale.