Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace running back Ethan Gallet finds open field against the Emory Rains defense.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace receiver Donnie Bevis (right) outruns the Emory Rains defense to the 1-yard line.

EUSTACE–The Eustace Bulldogs opened their District 7-3A schedule with a Sept. 27 loss to the Emory Rains Wildcats, losing a two-touchdown first-half lead and mounting a late comeback but running out of time in the 47-44 defeat.
With the game tied at 21 at halftime, Rains took a 28-21 lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 6:22 left in the third quarter. Eustace staged a long drive in response, ending with a Rhett Dyer quarterback keeper from inside the Rains 1-yard line to tie the game at 28 with 1:12 left in the third quarter.
Rains ran 30-yards for a touchdown with 28 seconds left in the third (the extra-point kick was missed) to go in front 34-28. Rains added a 48-yard touchdown pass with 8:59 left in the game (the 2-point conversion run failed) to take command at 40-28.
Rains capped off their scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:20 remaining in the contest for a 47-28 lead. Eustace retorted with a 19-yard Dyer touchdown pass to Donnie Bevis with 2:36 left in the contest (Dyer’s 2-point conversion run made it 47-36).
After getting the ball back, Dyer threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Gallet with 21 seconds left but could come no closer after the 2-point conversion.
During the first half, Rains scored first on a 6-play drive that culminated in a 13-yard run to take a 7-0 lead 1:50 into the game.
Eustace responded with a drive that included a Dyer pass to Jeremy Rummel to get the Bulldogs to the Rains 44-yard line, then a fourth-and-short Dyer keeper conversion that kept the drive alive.
The next play, Dyer connected with Bevis to place Eustace inside Rains’ 1-yard line. Following that, Dyer scored a keeper touchdown (and then kicked the extra point) to tie the game at 7 with 5:44 left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs’ Nick McKee forced a Rains fumble on the following kickoff, recovered at midfield by Eustace’s Talyn Smith. Rains stopped that Bulldog drive on fourth down, but gave it back on their first play thereafter, with Chris Ridgle recovering the fumble at the Rains 35.
During the drive, Dyer converted a fourth-and-1 at the Rains 9. Eventually, Ethan Gallet ran 4 yards for a Eustace touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 advantage with 1:07 remaining in the initial quarter.
The next Eustace drive started at their own 43 and featured another Dyer keeper conversion on fourth down. Dyer found receiver Rummel at the Rains 7, then Bulldog freshman Aan-Gel Jackson ran twice, the latter for a touchdown covering 3 yards. That gave Eustace a 21-7 lead with 9:28 left in the second quarter.
Next, Rains faked a punt and later had a 20-yard touchdown run with 6:54 left in the second quarter that reduced the Eustace lead to 21-14. 
Then, after a Eustace punt, Rains threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21 with 4:44 left until halftime.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace defenders Ethan Marquez (from left) and Bryson Nichols corral a Rains running back.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Rhett Dyer of Eustace kicks a first-half extra point against Emory Rains Sept. 27.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace’s Jacob Nesbitt leans into an Emory Rains tackle attempt while rushing downfield.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Nick McKee of Eustace tries to block an Emory Rains punt in the Bulldogs’ district opener.