Early deficit dooms Dyersburg, Trojans fall to Crockett County

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Dyersburg saw its five-game winning streak come to an end on Friday night as the Trojans fell behind 20-0 during the first half before battling back but ultimately falling 42-28 to Crockett County in Alamo.

It took only four plays for the Cavaliers to get on the board as an eight-yard run on the second play of the drive by DK Woods was followed by a nine-yard pass from Ben Burgess to Drew Walker. This set up a 48-yard run by Woods for the game’s first score. The extra point for Crockett was good, putting the Cavaliers up 7-0 with 10:49 left in the opening quarter.

After Crockett County’s defense forced a punt on a three-and-out for the Trojans, both teams traded a pair punts. The first saw Dyersburg’s defense tighten up and end a Cavalier drive just past midfield. After the Cavalier punt, a holding call on a long run by Peyton Hill negated the gain and put the Trojans, already deep in their own territory, inside the Dyersburg 10-yard line. The black and gold was forced to punt two plays later.

The Cavaliers also ended the first quarter with a score as a pair of key runs from Woods got two of Crockett County’s three first downs on the drive. The second, a 12-yard run, set up a 23-yard touchdown pass from Burgess to Titus Luten. The extra point extended the Crockett County lead to 14-0 with nine seconds left in the quarter.

Dyersburg committed a turnover on its next possession as a fumble on the third play of the Trojan drive was recovered by Crockett County at the Trojan 42-yard line. The Cavaliers went back to work on offense, getting a 32-yard pass to Kris Phillips to set up a seven-yard run by Woods for the touchdown. The extra point failed, but Crockett County’s lead was extended to 20-0 with 9:49 left in the half.

After struggling for much of the first half, Dyersburg was able to get on the board on the next drive. Runs from Hill, Quincy Terry, and Jaden Harris were key for the Trojans. But, the big play came through the air as Logston Morgan hit Devin Hope for a 32-yard pass across midfield. Hill then capped off the drive with a pair of runs totaling 13 yards. The second was a three-yard touchdown run. Elian Gonzalez’s extra point with 5:57 left in the half cut the Crockett County lead to 20-7.

Crockett County had an answer as the Cavaliers ate up much of the final almost six minutes of the first half with a 12-play, 70-yard drive. The drive was aided by five Woods carries and capped by a one-yard plunge by Burgess with 25 seconds left. On the point after, the Cavaliers faked the kick then Mason Dennis hit Walker for the two-point conversion to extend the Crockett County lead back to 28-7 at the half.

Dyersburg came out of the locker room and put together a long scoring drive of its own to start the second half. With Necari Hall, Terry, Hioll and Kendrick Gourley doing the wok on the ground, Trojan quarterback Morgan also completed a pair of key passes to put the black and gold into the red zone. Hill capped the drive with a three-yard run with 2:47 left in the third quarter as the drive took 9:13 off the clock. Gonzalez’s extra point cut the Crockett County lead to 28-14.

The Cavaliers answered again. A 31-yard run by Burgess set the tone for the seven-play drive as he carried the ball three times and accounted for 44 yards before handing the ball to Woods on the first play of the third quarter to put Crockett back on the board again. The extra point extended the lead back to 35-14 with 11:55 left in the game.

Dyersburg was able to get their answer quickly as a long kickoff return by Terry was followed by a 13-yard run by Harris to the Crockett County 26-yard line. Morgan then hit Gourley for a 23-yard touchdown pass down the Trojan sideline. The extra point cut Crockett’s lead back to 35-21 with 11:14 left.

The Trojan defense was able to get a stop on the next drive with 8:33 left in the contest. But, Dyersburg was forced to punt after a three-and-out.

Crockett put the game away on the second play of the next drive as Woods ran for a 70-yard touchdown. The extra point gave the Cavaliers a 42-21 lead with 6:45 left in the game.

The Trojans were able to get the score back but their scoring drive covered 89 yards and took over five minutes off the clock. Passes to Isaiah Thomas and Hope set up a one-yard run by Tymarion Hill for the score with 1:42 left in the game. The extra point trimmed the Cavalier lead to 42-28.

Dyersburg went for the onside kick by Crockett County recovered at its own 44-yard line. From there, the Cavaliers took a knee three times to end the game and seal the win.

The Cavaliers’ run game and – specifically – Woods was the difference. Crockett County carried the ball 31 times for 249 yards. Of those carries, 19 of those went to Woods, who rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns.

Dyersburg was led by Hill who had 12 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Morgan was 8 of 12 through the air with one touchdown.

Overall, Crockett County outgained Dyersburg 432-332.

Dyersburg returns to action after the bye for Fall Break. The Trojans will travel to Covington on Friday, Oct. 17 to take on the Chargers in Region 7-3A action.

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