Eustace Ground Attack Carries Bulldogs to 26-21 Season-Opening Win at Canton

CANTON -- Steven Stine and Jesus Barcenas powered a potent running game to lead Eustace a 26-21 season-opening win at Canton on Friday at Norris Birdwell Stadium.

Stine and Barcenas each eclipsed the century mark on the ground as the Bulldogs amassed 317 yards on 58 rushes to win new head coach Heath Ragle's debut. Stine carried 22 times for 136 yards and one touchdown, while Barcenas had 16 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown.

After falling behind 7-0, Eustace responded with three unanswered touchdowns. Clay Carson scored from seven yards to tie the game 7-7 at halftime before Barcenas went 31 for a 13-7 third-quarter lead. Lance Rogers then scored from three yards for a 19-7 advantage.

Canton quarterback Chandler Eiland, who scored the game's first touchdown on a two-yard run, cut Eustace's lead to 19-14 in the fourth when he hit Ryan Slider for a six-yard touchdown.

Stine's three-yard touchdown run pushed the lead to 26-14. Eiland's 27-yard run cut the deficit to 26-21, but the Eagles couldn't complete the comeback.

Eustace's defense held Canton to 190 total yards -- 112 passing, 78 rushing.  Eiland accounted for 81 percent of those yards, completing 12 of 23 passes for 112 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while rushing 10 times for 42 yards and two scores.

Canton's Brad Wiggins caught a game-high six passes for 43 yards. Eustace's Rogers ran nine times for 34 yards.