Barnett, Jackson carry Bulldogs

SHEFFIELD - For the second straight year, Sheffield and Wilson played a game that went down to the wire.

And for the second straight season, Sheffield found a way to win in the closing minutes.

The Bulldogs edged Wilson 36-35 in a thrilling opener Friday night as DeMarcus Barnett scored on a 1-yard run with 3:06 to play and then ran the winning 2-point conversion.

It was Sheffield's only lead of the night and spoiled a 172-yard rushing performance by Wilson's Lane Canerday.

"There was no doubt we were going for two," a relieved Sheffield coach Chris Tucker said.

"We hadn't een kicking too well, and we decided if we scored we were going for two.

"The first game sets the tone for the season, and our kids showed some resiliency tonight."

In addition to his winning touchdown, Barnett threw a 66-yard TD pass to Zach Johnson and threw a conversion pass to Dee Linere and ran for another.

Tevin Jackson also had a big night for the Bulldogs, who snapped a six-game losing streak. Jackson scored on runs of 5 and 47 yards and returned a kickoff 81 yards for another score that tied the game at 22 in the third quarter.

In addition to Canerday, Trey Harrell scored on a pair of 1-yard runs for Wilson. Blaine Delia added a 1-yard TD run and recovered a fumble in the end zone for another.

Delia's 1-yard run to open the fourth quarter put Wilson ahead 28-22, but Jackson broke his 47-yarder to pull the Bulldogs even.

Harrell put the Warriors back in front with his second TD with 6:40 to play, but a kickoff that went out-of-bounds helped Sheffield to the winning touchown.

After Wilson re-kicked, the Bulldogs took over at the Warriors 49. Jackson broke a 24-yard run to the 5, setting up Barnett's score.

"Tevin Jackson made some big plays for us," Tucker said.

"He has a chance to be a special player."

Wilson finished with 468 total yards, including 303 on the ground. Sheffield had 296 total yards.