Dyer County holds on to topple unbeaten USJ

 

Spencer Noel

Staff Reporter, JP Productions Sports

After a long bye week, the Choctaws returned home to Newbern for the first time in almost a month as Dyer County faced the USJ Bruins in a close battle. The Choctaws were able to outlast the Bruins 27-26 in Newbern following a late-game goal-line stand by the Dyer County Defense.

"It was a great school win," Dyer County Head Coach Justin Dubruiel said. "It was an incredible atmosphere. 

"Our kids played hard. Our assistant coaches put kids in the right position. The fans showed up. And the band became our 12th player at the end." 

Dyer County won the toss and elected to receive. The Choctaws got the ball at their own 20-yard line to start the game. After a rush-heavy drive led by Ke’Anthony Barbee got Dyer County to the USJ 31-yard line, the Choctaws got into a fourth-and-11, but a Landon Daniels pass to Devin Hayward got down to the 8-yard line. On second-and-goal from the 4, Daniels’ pass to Grant West found the endzone for a Dyer County touchdown. The extra point by Jotham Powell was good, which gave Dyer County the 7-0 lead.

USJ got the ball at their own 40-yard line to start their opening drive. On 3rd and 5 from the DC 22, USJ quarterback Cayden Creech threw a pass to Ben Spencer, who found the endzone for the Bruins. The extra point by Cohen Nabours was good, tying the score at 7 apiece.

The Choctaws got the ball at their own 20-yard line to start the next drive. Dyer County got into an early third-and-two, which saw Daniels find Kaleb Mahome to extend the drive. On fourth-and-3, five plays later, Daniels passed to West for a first down. Then, on fourth-and-11 from the 39-yard line, a Daniels pass to Mahome over the middle went the distance for the Choctaws' touchdown. The extra point was good, which made the score 14-7, Choctaws.

The Bruins got the ball at their own 40-yard line to start the next drive. The Dyer County defense forced USJ into a fourth-and-two, and they forced a turnover on downs. On fourth-and-eight, a pass to Antonio Franklin picked up enough for the first down. The Choctaws then got into a fourth-and-15, which saw a Daniels pass fall incomplete, giving the ball to the Bruins at their own 39-yard line. On second-and-five from the 44-yard line, a Creech pass to Jake Payne went all the way for a USJ touchdown. The extra point was good, evening the score at 14.

The Choctaws started the next drive at their own 20. After 5 plays, Dyer County was in a second-and-7 from the 33-yard line, where a handoff to Barbee went all the way for the Choctaws' score. The extra point was no good, which made the score 20-14.

USJ got the ball at their own 42-yard line to start the next drive. On third-and-10, a Creech fumble was recovered by the Choctaws, giving them the ball at midfield. On the first play, a Daniels pass to Franklin gained 30. The Choctaws were able to get down to the 2-yard line, but a Daniels pass on fourth-and-goal fell incomplete. USJ then ran out the clock on the first half.

The Bruins got the ball to start the second half. On third-and-9 from the Dyer County 49-yard line, a pass to Spencer gained seven but left USJ in fourth-and-2. A run then picked up just enough for the first. On third-and-seven, a Creech pass fell incomplete. On 4th and 7, a Creech pass was intercepted by Hayward and returned to the USJ 15-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 8, a Daniels run got into the end zone for a Dyer County score. The extra point was good, making the score 27-14 Dyer County.

USJ got the ball at their own 27-yard line. A big run by Jackson Pugh got the Bruins down to the Choctaws 8 yard line, and a Creech pass to Payne got into the endzone for the USJ touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Barbee, making the score 27-20 in favor of Dyer County.

The Choctaws got the ball at their own 20-yard line to start the next drive, but got backed up via penalty and were forced to punt. USJ then got the ball at their own 27-yard line. The Choctaws' defense then forced a punt of their own and got the ball at their own 33. On third-and-two, a handoff to Barbee picked up a first down. On second-and-six, a pass to Mahome gained enough for a first down. Three plays later, a Choctaw fumble gave the ball to the Bruins at their own 16-yard line.

USJ got all the way down to the Dyer County 4-yard line and were in a fourth-and-2, but were given a first down via penalty. On the next play, a handoff to Pugh scored for the Bruins. The Dyer County defense stood tall and stopped Pugh in the backfield on the 2-point attempt, making the score 27-26 DC.

The Choctaws got the ball back with 2:30 left on the clock at their own 25-yard line, picked up a first down via penalty and were able to run the clock out, beating USJ 27-26.

The Choctaws are back in Newbern for their next game to face Region 7-4A foe Jackson South Side. Kickoff between the Hawks and Dyer County is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24.

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