Brett Rosen’s eight-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and a Bryce Cross blocked punt return for another score, helped the Pilots beat the Bridgeport Bulldogs 23-15 in Brookside Friday night.

The Pilots scored first in the opening period on a 20-yard field goal, before the Bulldogs got a one-yard scamper in the second stanza to retake the lead at 7-3. However, Cross hauled in a nifty 55-yard bomb from Joey Flannery to take back the lead at 10-7 after the Colton Wright PAT.

A short time later, the Pilots took a 23-7 lead when Rosen recovered a fumble and took in home, while Cross did the same thing on a blocked punt. Neither team scored in the third period, but the Bulldogs scored late in the fourth on a 19-yard TD reception and converted on a two-point pass play.

Cross paced the Pilots with 52 yards rushing and caught all four of Flannery’s passes for 65 yards and a score. Jordan Sapp followed with 41 yards rushing, while Flannery added 26 yards.

The Pilots will visit Shenandoah Friday with the opening kick scheduled for 7 p.m.