GENTRY -- CJ Taylor ran for 105 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown, as Gentry earned a 30-18 win over West Fork in its first game under coach Paul Ernest on Friday night.
The win is a dramatic change from a 42-16 loss to the Tigers last season for the Pioneers (1-0), who hope the turnaround is a sign of things to come under Ernest -- a former Nashville assistant coach.
Gentry finished 3-8 last season after its opening loss against West Fork (0-1), and it trailed 6-0 in the first quarter on Friday after a 2-yard touchdown run by the Tigers' Brayden Burnett.
However, the Pioneers responded with 24 straight points -- capped by Taylor's 72-yard burst down the right sideline late in the third quarter.
"Knowing what these kids have been through, the biggest thing to me was we fell down ... But we responded well," Ernest said. "We didn't lay down when things went bad, and we've been fighting that, big time."
Taylor also had a pair of tackles for losses in the first half, a welcomed homecoming for the senior in his first game back in Gentry after he moved following the eighth-grade. After not playing football a year ago in Oklahoma, he topped the century mark in rushing on only eight carries.
"My senior year, I wanted to play with all my friends I grew up with and just have some fun with them," Taylor said. "(Ernest) is bringing us together like a family."
Gentry had 274 yards rushing overall, including 91 on nine carries by quarterback Jon Faulkenberry. The sophomore was also 7-of-9 passing and had a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jake Faulkenberry to put the Pioneers up 16-6 on the opening drive of the second half.
Cole Cripps put the game out of reach midway through the fourth quarter for Gentry with a 30-yard touchdown run to put the Pioneers up 30-12 -- capping a picture-perfect debut for Ernest and homecoming for Taylor.
"It feels good, and it feels like the kids are moving forward," Ernest said.
The Tigers appeared on their way to taking control of the game late in the first half, particularly after Burnett converted a fourth-and-12 near midfield when he kept the ball on a fake punt and gained 16 yards for the first down.
Four plays later, though, Tanner Christie stepped in front of a West Fork wide receiver and snared a pass from West Fork quarterback Colton Wise in the right flat -- following the blocks of Jake Faulkenberry and Dillon Matthews and returning the interception 72 yards for the tying touchdown.
It was one of two interceptions by the Pioneers defense in the first half, with Dillon Matthews grabbing the other near the end of the first half.
Wise, who accounted for 32 touchdowns last season as West Fork went undefeated in conference play before falling in the first round of the playoffs, finished 10-of-26 passing for 139 yards. He also had a 27-yard touchdown pass to Devin Worley early in the fourth quarter to cut the Gentry lead to 24-12.
It was far too late, however, for the Tigers in their attempt to repeat last season's big win over the Pioneers.
"They outplayed us in all parts of the game, offense, defense and special teams," West Fork coach Brad Lindley said. "We knew they had (Taylor), we just couldn't tackle him tonight."
Nonconference
Gentry 30, West Fork 18
West Fork 6 0 0 12 -- 18
Gentry 0 8 16 6 -- 30
First Quarter
West - Burnett 2 run (pass failed), 2:17
Second Quarter
Gentry - Christie 72 interception return (Taylor run), 1:47
Third Quarter
Gentry - Ja. Faulkenberry 4 pass from Jo. Faulkenberry (Jo. Faulkenberry run), 6:03
Gentry - Taylor 72 run (Jo. Faulkenberry run), 3:01
Fourth Quarter
West - Worley 27 pass from Wise (pass failed), 10:36
Gentry - Cripps 30 run (run failed), 7:40
West - Wise 4 run (pass failed), 4:21
Sports on 09/09/2015