Todd Barker

Special to the Enquirer

Priceville’s comeback bid came up just short, as Westminster Christian escaped with a 21-14 region win at Bulldog Stadium Friday night.

Trailing 21-12 in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, Priceville drove all the way to the Westminster 1-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.

However, Bulldog defensive end Brian Parker led the charge to stop a Westminster run in the end zone for a safety on the next play.

Following the free kick, Priceville (2-2, 1-2) could not get a first down with less than two minutes to go.

The first half was filled with action, but neither team could get the ball in the end zone. There were five red zones trips between them and only an interception return touchdown by Westminster was scored.  At the half, WCHS led 7-0.

In the third, Aaron Cartee led a drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Lamar Burch for 39 yards. The extra point was missed, leaving the Westminster with a 7-6 lead.

Westminster answered with on a long touchdown run around the right end and raised the lead to 14-6.

Cartee and Burch connected again on another 40-yard pass for their second touchdown of the game. Priceville’ 2-point conversion to tie the score failed with about 6 minutes to go in the contest, leaving the score 14-12 WCHS.

Westminster got a good return from the PHS kickoff and scored quickly with another long down the right sideline to take the 21-12.

Priceville mounted a drive that led them to the 1-yard line. After two attempts, the Bulldogs turned it over on downs still short of the end zone by about a foot.

The Bulldogs didn’t quit thanks to the defensive effort by Parker, giving the Priceville one last shot.

But they couldn’t get a first down to sustain a potential game-tying drive.

The Bulldogs will travel to Danville for a non-region game Friday night.