Dyer County gets big lead, holds off Tigers for region win

 




Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

After a pair of road wins to start the season, Dyer County returned to Newbern to begin both their home schedule and the Choctaws’ Region 7-4A slate with a 49-28 win over visiting Hardin County on Friday night.

“The key to the victory tonight was trying to establish the running game and being more physical than we have been in the last couple of weeks,” Dyer County Head Coach Justin Dubruiel said following the win.


The Choctaws wasted little time getting on the board as it took only four plays for Dyer County to get into the end zone. A pass from Landon Daniels to Devin Hayward took the Choctaws across midfield then a Bryce Fulton five-yard run set up a 40-yard touchdown run by KeAnthony Barbee to get Dyer County on the board. Jotham Powell added the extra point to give the Choctaws a 7-0 lead with 10:03 left in the opening frame.

The Tigers, though, answered quickly as Aidan Coleman hit an open Lamarion Wyke on the third play of the ensuing Hardin County drive for a 56-yard touchdown pass. The extra point tied the score at 7-7 with 8:12 left in the frame.

Dyer County went back to work on offense as Fulton and Anthony went to work on the ground along with Daniels. The Choctaw quarterback’s lone carry of the eight-play drive set up a pair of Fulton runs. The second was a one-yard plunge for the score with 6:28 left in the first frame. Powell’s extra point put Dyer County back on top 14-7.

The Choctaws were able to get a big play on defense as a fumble was recovered by Dyer County at the Hardin County 42-yard line. A pass from Daniels to Hayward was extended by a penalty then Barbee capped the drive two plays later with a 13-yard touchdown run. The extra point extended Dyer County’s lead to 21-7 with 2:05 left in the first quarter.

The first-quarter scoring continued as it took the Tigers only two plays before Coleman and Wyke hooked up again for a 45-yard touchdown pass. The PAT cut Dyer County’s lead to 21-14 with 1:06 left in the frame.


The Choctaw answer came early in the second quarter as Daniels found Antonio Franklin for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The extra point extended the Choctaw lead back to 28-14 with 10:25 left in the half.

Dyer County was able to get a stop on defense then added to its lead. A 33-yard pass from Daniels to Hayward highlighted the seven-play, 82-yard drive. Anthony capped the drive with his third rushing touchdown of the day, this one for 23 yards. The extra point pushed the Choctaw lead to 35-14 with 4:30 left in the half.

“KeAnthony, he is an electric player,” Dubruiel added. “When he gets the ball in his hands – whether it’s a pass, kick return, punt return or anything like that, he’s got a chance to go the distance.”

Dyer County forced another fumble on the next Tiger drive which was recovered by Eric Cowen at the Hardin County 33-yard line.

From there, a 24-yard pass to Hayward was followed three plays later by a nine-yard touchdown pass to the receiver with 2:12 left. The extra point put Dyer County on top 42-14 at the half.

The Tigers were able to cut into the Dyer County lead midway through the third quarter with a 94-yard touchdown pass to White. The extra point cut the Choctaw advantage to 42-21 with 6:01 left in the third quarter.


Dyer County answered later in the frame as Daniels connected with Franklin for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 2:51 left in the quarter. The extra point pushed the Choctaw lead back to 49-21.

Hardin County was able to tack on another third-quarter score before the Choctaws shut the Tigers out in the fourth quarter to secure the 21-point win.

“Landon played well and the offensive line played superb when it came to our passing game,” the Choctaw head coach said. “They kept Landon off the ground a lot, which is good.”

There’s still things to clean up as the Choctaws prepare for their second straight 7-4A game, which takes place at Crockett County next Friday night.

“Always penalties and we gave up a few too many points than I’d like to give up on defense,” Dubruiel explained. “But, we’ll go into the film and see what we can do to fix that.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. next Friday night in Alamo against Crockett County.

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