A 30-yard field goal failed to connect as time expired and so did Brantley's hopes of extending its 25-game regular season winning streak.

The No. 7 Bulldogs fell to Elba 18-16 on Friday night in the season opener for both schools.

A 25-yard touchdown pass by Brandon Kelly to Mason Gulley with 1:40 remaining provided the margin of victory for Elba.

But the Bulldogs responded with time running out.

Quarterback Edgar Walker connected with junior wide out Thad Frazier on a 54-yard pass, moving the ball inside the Elba 10-yard line.

Things got controversial then, as running back Chris Booker swept wide on a running play and appeared to step out of bounds standing up. The officials didn't see it that way and the clock kept ticking.

Brantley had no timeouts remaining.

Brantley head coach David Lowery chose to try the field goal following a play that lost yardage and after Walker had spiked the ball on third down. The field goal was to the left and Elba took a knee to end the game.

"I told our kids it should have never come down to that," said Lowery of his team's final drive. "We just didn't play a good football game."

Lowery said the Bulldogs hurt themselves constantly throughout the contest with holding penalties and a clipping call that negated a 56-yard touchdown run by James Pittman.

"We did a lot of things in the game I didn't like," said Lowery. "Defensively, we didn't tackle real well. Hopefully, we'll get better."

Brantley opened the game with scoring drive as Walker hit Shane Corley for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Elba answered with a score of its own, but the extra point was no good.

The Bulldogs led 7-6 at the half.

The Tigers went ahead 12-7, but Brantley closed the gap with a safety and then Corley hauled in his second touchdown catch from Walker, another 20-yard pass, reclaiming the lead for the Bulldogs.

But Kelly's pass to Gulley was Elba's answer.

Gulley also added a 40-yard touchdown catch and Laray Williams had a 32-yard touchdown run for the Tigers.

Brantley hosts Goshen on Friday night, opening Class 1A, Region 2 play.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.