PRENTISS – The Prentiss Bulldogs celebrated homecoming Friday night with a 58-20 win over the Loyd Star Hornets in Region 7-2A football action.

“This was a good win for our guys, ” said Prentiss coach Tim McNair. “Overall, I was very pleased with my team’s effort, everyone came out and played hard.”

Prentiss managed to wear down Loyd Star’s defense to score the first points of the night on a 30-yard pass from Jalen Madison to Tim McNair Jr. The Bulldogs were successful on the two-point conversion attempt to secure a 8-0 lead.

The Hornets quickly answered when James Beard returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. The Hornets was successful on their two-point conversion attempt to tie the game at 8-8.

Prentiss continued to wear down the Hornets’ defense with its passing attack as Jalen Madison threw for his second touchdown of the game on 30-yard strike to McNair Jr., but the Bulldogs failed on their second attempt for the two-point conversion. Prentiss led 14-8 with 6:41 remaining.

On Loyd Star’s next offensive drive, quarterback Michael Harvey threw an interception that was returned 50 yards for a touchdown, and the Bulldogs increased their lead to 22-8 after scoring the two-point conversion to end the first.

In the second quarter, Prentiss continued to spread the field with its passing attack and scored another touchdown when Jalen Madison ran in a 25-yard score for his third touchdown of the night to extend the Bulldogs lead to 30-8.

With 5:45 left in the second quarter, Loyd Star’s Harvey managed to break free to sprint in a 20-yard touchdown to cut into the Bulldogs’ lead at 30-14.

With 13 seconds left in the first half, the Hornets made a costly mistake on the three-yard line, which led to Prentiss finding the end zone for the final score of the half. Isaiah Gatlin ran the ball in to give the Bulldogs a 38-14 lead at halftime.

In the third period, Jalen Madison scored another touchdown on a 15-yard run and the Bulldogs punched in another two-point conversion to add to their lead at 46-14.

With 5:26 remaining in the third, Loyd Star found the end zone with a 10-yard strike by Parker Flowers to cut into Prentiss’s lead at 46-20.

The Bulldogs finished off the third quarter with another touchdown when Madison threw a 35-yard pass to McNair. Prentiss led 52-20.

In the final period, Prentiss would score its final touchdown of the game on a 40-yard run by Radonte Womack with 3:30 left as the Bulldogs held on to clinch a 58-20 victory.

“Prentiss has a good team,” said Loyd Star coach Adam Cook. “I was very impressed with the way my guys played tonight. The guys are supporting each other and coming together as a team.”

Offensively, Parker Flowers directed the Hornets with 108 yards rushing on 29 carries with one touchdown. Michael Harvey contributed 46 yards rushing on nine carries and one touchdown. Patrick Price rushed six times for 36 yards. Tucker Watts had 10 carries for 29 yards.

James Beard had a 85-yard kick off return for a touchdown.

Defensively, Flowers led the Hornets with 10 tackles. Thomas Patterson contributed five stops. Konner Allen, James Beard and Bradyn Brister finished with four tackles each. Patrick Price intercepted a pass. Jackeveous Coleman recovered a fumble. Both Price and Coleman had three tackles each.

Loyd Star (2-6, 0-2) returns home to host the Enterprise Jackets (3-4, 0-2) for the annual Lincoln County Sting Bowl Friday at William E. “Sambo” Smith Field. Prentiss (4-4, 2-0) will travel to face the West Lincoln Bears (2-5, 0-2). Kickoff for both games is at 7 p.m.