Lindale Defense Clamps Down On Chapel Hill + Eagles Earn 21-17 Win In Opener

LINDALE -- A ball-hogging offense and a stingy, swarming defense helped the Lindale Eagles open up the 2014 football season on a winning note with a 21-17 victory over Smith County rival Chapel Hill on Friday night at Eagle Stadium.

The Eagles (1-0) controlled the ball for the biggest portion of the game -- especially in the second half -- and came back from a 10-9 halftime deficit to post the season-opening victory.

Senior tailback Aaron Jackson carried the ball 25 times for 124 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Kam Neely connected on 14 of 28 attempts for 210 yards and a touchdown.

Chapel Hill’s offense could only muster one big play, a 71-yard scoring strike from quarterback Konnor Hitchcock to wide out Deundre Phillips in the second quarter.

Hitchcock went to the air 16 times, completing 11 for 149 yards. The Bulldog running game, however, was unable to help sustain any drives to keep the ball out of Lindale’s hands.

In fact, Chapel Hill had the ball for just a little over five minutes for the entire second half.

Lindale travels to Carthage to take on the defending state champions, while Chapel Hill plays Whitehouse at Tyler's Rose Stadium next Friday night.