PARIS — Too many mistakes cost the Madison Southern football team in its season opener Friday night at Bourbon County.

Southern surrendered two defensive touchdowns and a botched punt led to a third score, as the Eagles fell to the Colonels 48-27.

“We lost by 21 and we had three big mistakes and they ended up with 21 points,” Southern coach Jon Clark said. “We dominated the game, moving the ball up and down the field.  Defensively we had some young guys playing so we knew we’d give up a few, but the 21 points we lost by was 21 points of our mistakes.”

Trailing 6-0 in the first quarter, the Eagles marched down the field, on a 14-yard run by Wes Proctor, runs of 13 and eight yards by Coty Russell and a 17-yard scamper by quarterback Adam Simpson.

After Simpson hit John Williams with an 11-yard reception, Russell ran right up the middle, barreling over a pair of Bourbon County players on his way to the end zone and a 7-6 lead.

Bourbon County took the lead right back, 12-7, midway through the second quarter.

That’s when the Eagles began to self-destruct.

Southern bungled a punt, giving Bourbon County the ball at the Eagles’ 13-yard line.

The Colonels needed one play to score a touchdown to take a 20-7 lead.

Southern fumbled the ball on its next possession and Bourbon County’s Charles Johnson picked up the ball and raced 58 yards for the score and a 27-7 lead.

Down, but not out, Southern cut into the lead before halftime.

Russell got the Eagles headed in the right direction with a 33-yard run. Russell carried the ball for five yards, Logan Coomer for four yards and Russell ran three times for 16 yards, giving the Eagles the ball at the 11-yard line.

From there, Simpson connected with Wes Proctor on an 11-yard scoring strike to cut the lead to 27-13 at halftime.

Southern got the ball to start the second half and started off with excellent field possession when the Eagles returned the kick 57 yards to the Bourbon County 32-yard line.

Three plays later Buddy Harrison raced up the middle for a 28-yard score, cutting the lead to 27-19.

Southern attempted an onsides kick, and it was recovered by Bourbon County at its own 46-yard line.

The Colonels used 10 plays to go 54 yards, scoring a touchdown to increase their lead to 34-19.

On their next possession the Eagles went back to pass, but Johnson stepped in front of the pass and raced 37 yards for the touchdown, giving Bourbon County a 41-19 lead.

Southern needed two plays to score, getting a 34-yard run by Proctor and a 7-yard scoring run by Russell to cut the lead to 41-27 with 9:59 to play.

The Eagles’ defense stopped Bourbon County on a three-and-out, the first time they had stopped the Colonels from scoring since the game’s opening drive.

Southern, though, committed a personal foul on the punt and were pushed back from the 44 to the 29-yard line.

The Eagles managed to move the ball, but ran 12 plays for 45 yards and used 5:36 of clock. By the time they turned the ball over on downs there was only 1:58 to play.

Bourbon County put the nail in the coffin with a 65-yard scoring run.

“We’re a good team right now,” Clark said. “I’m frustrated for the team. This could have been a win, but it’s not a win until it’s a win. No moral victories for us this year. We’re ready to start winning. We just have to learn to win.”

Running back Damien Harris did not play. The sophomore is still recovering from a shoulder injury.

Southern plays at 8 p.m. Friday at Lynn Camp.