Dyersburg steps out of region to face Crockett County

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Coming off a 17-point win last Friday night in Troy against Obion County Central, Dyersburg will take a step out of Region 7-3A play this week as the Trojans (5-1, 3-0) will travel to Crockett County to take on the Cavaliers for the first time in the regular season since 2020.

The Trojans led 28-0 at the half but had two scores called back in the second half as well as a fumble deep inside Rebel territory. Those two along with Central’s effort in the second half made for a closer game in the final 24 minutes last Friday night.

“We’ve got to play four quarters of Trojan football, that’s what I am looking forward to,” Dyersburg Head Coach Bart Stowe said of what he wants his team to take away from last week. “And being able to play a good, complete game – which we haven’t done yet.

“We played a good first half last week but the second half was kind of helter-skelter. Defense did some good stuff and (Obion) had a couple scores late in the game with our young guys out there.”

Stowe added the team needs to keep the momentum going and learn from their mistakes as they head deeper into the second half of the season.

Offensively, Stowe said the Cavaliers look to get the ball to running back DK Woods and tight end Kris Phillips.

“They have a fine football team,” Stowe explained. “Coach (Kevin) Ward has been doing it a long time and always does a good job.

“They have a fine program over there at Crockett County. That’s one of the reason we’re playing them – for good competition. They’re an old rival that we’ve played a lot in the past.”

The Cavaliers also have a lot of size, according to the Trojan head coach.

“Their offensive line has a lot of size and (Woods) is a big man, too,” Stowe explained. “Their quarterback (Ben Burgess) is a big man, too.

“They’ve got a lot of size over there so we’ve got to do a good job handling that and competing and bringing our best game.”

Stowe said the Dyersburg defense will need to stop the run.

“Our defensive line has got to set the front,” Stowe said. “Our linebackers have got to play with good leverage.

“Our secondary has got to tackle and cover to the best of their ability. Pursue the ball and tackle and wrap up well. Play good Trojan defense.”

On defense, the Cavaliers have a lot of size as well and play from a stacked 3-3 defense.

“They have a lot of linebackers out there to contend with,” Stowe explained. “We’ve got to be consistent offensively.

“We have to have good pad level and run the ball and throw the ball well. We can’t turn the ball over. We can’t hold. We had a big play called back last week because of a holding penalty.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Alamo on Friday night.

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