Trenton returned an interception for a touchdown with seven seconds left in the first half to take a 12-point lead into the lockers, but it would not score again. Meanwhile, Dixie County scored on 91- and 75-yard touchdown runs in the second half to come from behind and beat the Tigers, 20-19.
The game could not have started much better for the Tigers. Trenton returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to take a 6-0 lead. After a stop on defense, the offense found the end zone on its first drive to make it 12-0.
After the teams traded turnovers on downs, Dixie scored on a 57-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 12-7 with 9:47 left in the half.
At the end of the half, the Tigers forced the Bears to punt from deep in their own territory, but the punt was muffed and recovered by Dixie County.
On the very next play, however, a Dixie pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown with seven seconds left in the half, giving the Tigers a 19-7 halftime lead.
Trenton forced another interception to start the second half, but fumbled the ball away on the ensuing possession.
But Dixie made a mess of its next possession. It went as follows: bad snap on first down, false start, then a no-gain with a declined holding penalty on second down and a fumbled snap on third down, leading to a Dixie County punt.
That set up good field position for the Tigers on their next possession. Trenton took the ball down to the Dixie one-yard line with a chance to probably put the game away late in the third quarter.
After getting backed up to the six-yard line, Trenton attempted a speed option to the left, but the pitch was mishandled and recovered by Dixie County at its own nine-yard line.
On the ensuing play, Dixie scored on a 91-yard touchdown run to cut the lead back down to five with 1:04 left in the third.
Trenton again fumbled the ball away at the end of the third quarter, but the defense held and forced a punt that pinned the Tigers at their own five.
Despite the poor field position, the Tigers moved into Bear territory, but a long run that would have had the Tigers inside the Dixie County 30 ended in a fumble recovered by the Bears.
Dixie County answered immediately with a 75-yard touchdown run to give the Bears their first lead of the game at 20-19 with 3:42 left.
Trenton was able to move the ball into Dixie territory on its final drive, but a pass was intercepted in the end zone with just seconds left to seal the game.
The Tigers fall to 1-1 on the season.
They will travel to Jacksonville this week to take on Impact Christian Academy.
The Lions are 1-1 this season. They opened the season with a 50-0 loss to Tallahassee Chiles, but defeated Daytona Beach Halifax Academy, 52-0, last week.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m..