What A Game! Dyer County beats Dyersburg with PAT in OT

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

With the fanbases from both local schools in attendance and supporting their favorite teams, Dyer County rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to score twice in the third quarter.

But, a late touchdown by the Trojans forced overtime where a special teams became the most important part of the game as the Choctaws blocked Dyersburg’s extra point attempt then were able to score and sophomore DC kicker Jotham Powell hit a PAT for the 35-34 win to open the season.

The game marked the first career win for new Dyer County Head Coach Justin Dubruiel. It was also the first win by a Choctaw team at Dyersburg since 2007.

“It was good,” Dubruiel said following the win. “It was good for our kids and good for Dyer County.

“Whenever you can beat Dyersburg, it’s a fun night for everybody.”

Trailing by a touchdown at the half, Dyer County was able to get a stop on defense, forcing a three-and-out. On the ensuing punt, Choctaw junior returner KeAnthony Barbee stung the Trojans for a 65-yard punt return to bring Dyer County to within one after weaving his way down the field. Powell’s extra point tied the game at 21-21 with 10:27 left in the third quarter.

Dyer County’s defense continued to keep Dyersburg in check, forcing another three-and-out and a Trojan punt. Dyersburg was able to answer with a defensive stop of its own on the next Choctaw drive.

The Dyer County defense came up big again as Ty Johnson snagged a Trojan pass and ended the next Dyersburg possession with an interception.

Again, the Trojans were able to halt the Choctaw offense, forcing Dyer County to punt after three plays.

But, on the first play of the ensuing Dyersburg drive, the Trojans fumbled the ball and Dyer County’s Devin Hayward recovered to give the Choctaws the ball at the Dyersburg 39-yard line.

Dyer County went to work as a Landon Daniels pass to Antonio Franklin moved the chains then Daniels hit Grant West for a big gain from the Trojan 25 to the Dyersburg 5. After an incomplete pass, Daniels rolled out towards the Dyer County sidelines and leapt into the end zone for the touchdown. Powell’s extra point gave the Choctaws a 28-21 lead with 1:48 left in the third quarter.

Despite fumbling early in the fourth quarter, the Trojans were able to utilize their pounding offense during the fourth quarter after getting a stop around the 10-minute mark on defense.

Beginning at their own 7-yard line, the Trojans went to their stable of running backs Quincy Terry, Peyton Hill, Necari Hall and Jaden Harris as well as a couple of big carries from quarterback Logston Morgan. A Hill run for eight yards from the Choctaw 13-yard line took the Trojans to the 5. From there a four-yard sneak from Morgan and a one-yard run by Hill put the Trojans into the end zone. After a pair of penalties, Dyersburg’s Elian Gonzalez hit the extra point to tie the game at 28-28 with 2:49 left in the fourth quarter.

The Choctaw utilized their two-minute offense and looked to be about to stall nearing midfield before a pair of penalties on the same play – one for illegal use of the hands and the other a personal foul – took Dyer County all the way to the Trojan 31-yard line. But, Dyersburg was able to push the Choctaws back to the 36-yard line over the next three plays to keep Dyer County out of field goal range. A last-second pass was incomplete and sent the game to overtime.

Morgan wasted little time putting his team in a position to take the lead as his keeper covered nine of the ten yards between the Trojans and the goal line. Terry then punched it in from one-yard out to put Dyersburg on the board. But, after a penalty on the first PAT attempt, Gonzalez’s second attempt was blocked by Barbee to keep the Trojan lead at 34-28.

Then it was Dyer County’s turn as a pair of incomplete passes put the Choctaws at third-and-10. On third down, Daniels was able to avoid the Trojan defenders rushing him and hit Grant West for the touchdown at the back of the end zone. After a pair of encroachment penalties moved the ball closer to the goal line, Dyer County’s Powell hit the game-winning extra point to give the Choctaws the victory by one.

“He’s got all the confidence in the world,” the Choctaw head coach said of his sophomore kicker. “When he wants to go, we’ll go with him.”

Dubruiel said his team showed a lot of grit after rallying at the half.

“We just went in and we decided, ‘hey, what’s the best thing that they give us?’” Dubruiel said. “That’s what we decided to exploit.”

Dubruiel talked about the adjustments his team made after trailing at the half.

“We come out and we’re down by seven,” Dubruiel said. “We forced a stop then got some turnovers.

“We just tried to do the right things and be in the right spots.”

Dyersburg Head Coach Bart Stowe said his team has to learn from the mistakes on Friday night.

“We made too many mistakes,” Stowe said. “Hat’s off to Dyer County. They did an excellent job.

“They played a heck of a ballgame. They outplayed us there in the end. We made mistakes and they capitalized on them. That’s the game of football and the game of life.”

Dyer County struck first and in an unconventional way as Daniels hit Hayward on the sideline near the line of scrimmage. Hayward then turned and threw the ball downfield to West to complete the 80-yard double pass for the touchdown.

The Trojans were able to catch up on their second possession as it took only three plays for the black and gold to score after Braylen Jones snagged an errant Daniels pass on a screen. Terry picked up a five-yard gain on the ground then Morgan hit Ty Seaton for a 12-yard gain to the Dyer County 3-yard line. From there, the Trojans punched it in with a Hill carry. Gonzalez added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:58 left in the first quarter.

The Trojans were able to pull ahead midway through the second quarter as Terry capped a 71-yard, 10-play drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. The extra point put Dyersburg on top 14-7 with 7:17 left in the half.

Dyer County answered with a touchdown of its own on the next Choctaw possession. Covering 62 yards on seven plays, Daniels hit Kaleb Mahome for a 14-yard touchdown with 3:05 left in the half. The PAT tied the game at 14-14.

Dyersburg showed its big-play potential on the next drive as Morgan hit a wide-open Isaiah Thomas for a 58-yard touchdown pass as Thomas earned with by avoiding a pair of Choctaw defenders before being sprung free by a block by Kendrick Gourley. Gonzalez added the extra point to put the Trojans on top 21-14 with 1:47 left in the half.

Dyer County looked to answer but a late fumble near the goal line ended the Choctaw threat with the orange and white trailing by seven at the break.

Stowe said he was very proud of his team for continuing to fight and not letting the mistakes snowball.

“That’s what I told them there at the end,” Stowe said. “Very proud of them for fighting, keep digging and keep working to come back each and every time.”

Dubruiel talked about the importance of enjoying this moment briefly then to begin the preparation for next week’s game at Union City.

“We’re going to enjoy this for about two hours then it’s on to Union City,” Dyer County’s head coach said.

Brighton is up next for Dyersburg in Week 2.

“Another big opponent, a 5A opponent coming in here,” Stowe said. “We’ve got our hands full and we’ve got to work hard.”

Dyer County travels to Union City on Friday night while Dyersburg stays at home to host Brighton. Kickoff for both games is set for 7 p.m.

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