Mexico played from behind early to start the football season Friday.

Mexico at Centralia Photo Gallery

The Bulldogs fell behind 12-0 and then 26-7 at halftime before eventually losing 26-14 at Centralia. Mexico played Centralia in the season opener for the fifth straight year, winning two of the previous four meetings with the Panthers.

Friday’s meeting couldn’t have started much worse as Centralia ran into a fourth-and-5 situation and then converted on a 33-yard pass from Ethan Ross to Anthony Ford. Rex Bryson ran in the touchdown and then Ross ran in a touchdown on a drive that happened after Mexico lost a fumble on its first play from scrimmage. Ford stripped the ball, and Dax Deckerd recovered.

“It took us a half to be ready to play,” Mexico head coach Steve Haag said. “We came out the second half, it seemed like we had our feet beneath us, and we did much better.”

Haag said mistakes like Mexico’s three turnovers hurt them. The Bulldogs had the first fumble and then another on its first drive of the second half after advancing into Centralia territory. Charlie Fisher, who finished with 76 yards on 13 carries, ran for a touchdown to cap a 16-yard drive after Mexico had the ball again following a failed Centralia fourth-down conversion.

Haag said it is frustrating to have mistakes like turnovers and penalties erode any progress Mexico was able to make. For example, Mexico was looking for a touchdown multiple times in the fourth quarter for a one-possession game. After going backward, the Bulldogs threw an interception and ended another drive three yards short of the first down.

“It’s hard to overcome against a well-coached team like Centralia,” Haag said. “I coached a couple good teams, and I don’t know if they would overcome those types of mistakes either.”

It wasn’t just the long first-down pass to Ford early in the game as Centralia had the deep pass working all night whenever it was necessary. After Mexico cut its deficit to 12-7 on an Ayden Geers touchdown run, a 50-yard pass from Ross to Luke Waltemate set up another Centralia touchdown. Waltemate caught a 32-yard touchdown from Bryson on a drive that contained a defensive pass interference penalty on another pass.

Haag said Mexico was aware of Centralia’s capability to throw downfield as the Panthers did it in last year’s game. He said the younger players will need to learn from this game.

“The scheme is sound, but the thing is we’ve got some guys up front that are getting their first snaps,” Haag said. “As defensive backs, you want to help out the defense. All of a sudden, when you get sucked up in there, they get behind you and they throw the ball.”

Drew DeMint, Korbyn Dorsey and Charlie Fisher were able to break loose outside for some big runs in the second half and finish with 214 yards on the ground. DeMint had 68 yards on seven carries, and Dorsey followed with 34 yards on 10 carries. Overall, Haag said he was happy how Mexico’s first week up front went.

“The biggest thing was to fire off the ball and get after somebody,” Haag said. “I thought we did in that second half. I thought we did in the first half. (Our linemen will) get better. We’ve done different things in practice so we have other options, but it’s usually with the same five. We have to find a couple more we feel comfortable putting on the field.”

Mexico hosts Southern Boone at 7 p.m. this Friday.