The Straughn Tigers (1-0) held off Class 1A powerhouse Brantley for a 49-48 victory Friday night in the season-opener at Tiger Stadium.

“Brantley played really well, but we helped them out a lot,” Straughn head coach Chris Wilson said. “For the most part we dominated the line, but their quarterback was able to pick our young secondary apart for most of the night and we had to make adjustments.”

Corey Matrullo scored the first touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run to put Straughn on top 7-0.

At halftime, Straughn held a 21-14.

Straughn quarterback Brock Hammett had quite a performance for the Tigers as he racked up 248 yards and five touchdowns to guide the Tigers to victory.

Brantley took a 42-35 lead late in the fourth quarter when Jacob Free tossed his third touchdown of the game.

Hammett then scored two touchdowns in a little more than minute to put Straughn on top 49-42 with 1:05 left in the game.

Free added a fourth touchdown pass with a few seconds left on the board, but the Bulldogs failed on the two-point conversion.

“We had the lead for most of the game,” Wilson said. “They scored with 23 seconds left in the game and went for two and didn’t get it.”

Straughn finished the game with 639 rushing yards.

Jacob Hawkins finished with 141 yards rushing, Triston Cobb added 116 and a score and Matrullo tacked on 112 yards and a score.

Straughn faces Opp next week at home.