By TIM REEVES/The Selma Times-Journal

SELMA — With 5:59 remaining in the game, Cornerstone went for the jugular against Meadowview Christian. After scoring a touchdown to go ahead 24-21, the Chargers attempted an onside kick that initially appeared to be successful.

Unfortunately for the Chargers and their fans, the kick was touched by a Charger player just short of the required 10 yards, leading to a penalty and giving Meadowview the ball.

With possession of the ball and renewed life, the Trojans drove down the field, draining off clock, and scored a go-ahead touchdown by Carstella Hayes with 2:51 remaining to take a 28-24 win.

Meadowview was able to hold off the Chargers and take possession again, after Cornerstone failed to convert on a fourth down play with just over a minute to go.

“This was a huge win for us tonight,” Meadowview head coach Lebo Jones. “Meadowview has not won a homecoming game in five years and I am so happy we were able to do it tonight, in front of this big crowd.”

The two teams went back and forth throughout the night, exchanging the lead four times. For Cornerstone, the game was likely closer than it should have been considering the Chargers lost four fumbles on the night. For Meadowivew, the Trojans should have made a much easier night of it, but were unable to take advantage of those Cornerstone mistakes.

Cornerstone, which falls to 1-6 on the season with the loss, will also look back on the game and see the failure to convert on three 2-point conversion attempts and one extra point attempt.

On Cornerstone’s opening drive, the Chargers fumbled away the ball, but, thanks to a Meadowview fumble on the Trojan’s first offensive possession, they regained possession. Seven plays later, the Chargers took the lead on a 31-yard touchdown run by Tim Warren.

Warren finished the night with 135 yards and two touchdowns.

Meadowview would take the lead on their next possession, driving the ball 79 yards on eight plays. The drive was capped off by a 12-yard C.J. Grimes run with 3:33 remaining in the opening quarter.

The teams exchanged punts and fumbles through most of the first half, until Cornerstone regained the lead with 2:56 to go in the second quarter.

Warrant scored his second touchdown of the evening, this time on a 10-yard run that capped off a 9-play, 53-yard drive. The 2-point attempt failed, leaving the Chargers with a 12-7 lead.

Meadowview would be forced to punt on their next possession, but Cornerstone fumbled the ball away on the second play of their possession, giving Meadowview the ball on their own 41-yard line with 1:03 remaining in the half.

On the very next play, Hayes, playing quarterback after starting the game on the offensive line, connected with Grimes for a 59-yard touchdown with 50 seconds remaining. The Trojans failed on their 2-point attempt failed, sending both teams into halftime with Meadowview leading 13-12.

With just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Cornerstone took the lead when senior Heath Garrett picked up a Meadowview fumble and raced 65-yards for a touchdown. The 2-point attempt failed, giving Cornerstone an 18-13 lead.

Meadowview would again regain the lead, this time early in the fourth quarter, when Grimes scored his second rushing touchdown, and third overall, racking in from 16 yards out with 6:43 to play in the game. The Trojans were able to convert on the 2-point attempt and took a 21-18 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Trojan kicker apparently misplayed the ball, sending it directly into the arms of one of the Cornerstone upbacks to returned it all the way to the Trojan 16 yard line. Two plays later, Charger quarterback Ian Briggs found Jeffrey Odgers in the endzone for the touchdown with 5:59 remaining. The Trojans failed on their fourth 2-point attempt of the evening, leaving Cornerstone with a  24-21 lead.

Meadowview finished the evening with 325 yards of total offense, with 221 of that coming on the ground. Grimes, who had 107 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns, led the Trojans.