Dyer County scores 28 unanswered to beat Dyersburg

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

With the game tied late in the first half, the Dyer County Choctaws rattled off 28 straight points on Friday night to pull away on their way to a 42-20 win over Dyersburg in Newbern to open the 2026 high school football season.

Choctaw Head Coach Justin Dubruiel hopes Dyer County’s defensive performance will set a good tone for the season.

“Hopefully, we continue to play well defensively,” Dubruiel said. “I like to see it better on our special teams and we need to be a little bit more crisp.”

Dyer County got on the board on the first drive of the game as Bryce Fulton broke through the Dyersburg defense for a 23-yard touchdown run. Dillon Rogers added the extra point to put the Choctaws on top 7-0 with 10:41 left in the opening frame.

After the Trojan offense was forced to punt, Dyersburg was able to get on the board moments later thanks to a Dyer County miscue. With the ball inside its own 5-yard line, the Dyer County offense fumbled the ball in the end zone as Trojan Eric Funderburk recovered the loose ball for the score. Jackson Duggan added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:24 left in the first quarter.

Dyer County was able to get on the board again later in the first half. Set up by a long run from Keanthony Barbee, the Choctaws capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown score by the senior three plays later. Rogers tacked on the point after to put Dyer County back on top 14-7 with 2:03 left in the first quarter.

The Trojans pulled back even midway through the second quarter. For the second time in the contest, a Choctaw miscue led to Dyersburg getting onto the board. After being forced to punt, the ensuing snap sailed over Choctaw punter Bennett Black’s head, forcing him to fall on the loose ball at the Dyer County 14-yard line. From there, it took three plays before Demond Dillard found the end zone on a two-yard run with 4:15 left in the half. Duggan’s extra point tied the game at 14-14.

The Choctaws went to work quickly to answer Dyersburg’s score. Beginning at their own 20-yard line, Dyer County marched down the field to eat up much of the rest of the clock. A diving catch by River Johnson highlighted the early portion of the drive to get Dyer County to midfield. The orange and white continued to work its way down the field before a nine-yard run by Fulton capped the drive with a touchdown. The extra point gave the Choctaws a 21-0 lead at the half.

Dyer County’s special teams got in on the action in the third quarter. After forcing the Trojans to punt early in the second half, Channing Myers blocked the Trojan punt with Eli Pollock recovering the ball at the back of the end zone for the score. The extra point pushed Dyer County’s lead to 28-14 with 8:40 left in the third frame.

Dyer County continued to add to its lead in the third quarter as Landen White scored on a 16-yard quarterback keeper with 3:48 left in the frame. The extra point put Dyer County up 35-14.

The Choctaws capped of their string of 28 straight points with 7:52 left in the game on a four-yard Barbee run. The extra point gave Dyer County a 42-14 lead.

Dyersburg was able to tack on a late touchdown with a two-yard run Ty’marion Hill. The extra point failed due to a bad snap, leaving the Trojans trailing by 22 with 1:54 left in the game.

“We made some choices of what we felt like we liked,” Dubruiel said of the adjustments which helped lead to the scoring run. “I’m trying to get Landen a little bit more comfortable back there in the pocket.

“Hopefully, he’ll continue to get better as the season goes on with this being his first start.”

The win marks the third straight win over the Trojans for Dyer County as the Choctaws remain undefeated in Newbern since the rivalry resumed in 2021.

Dyer County returns to action on Friday, Aug. 28 as the Choctaws host Union City. Meanwhile, Dyersburg will look to bounce back next Friday night as the Trojans travel to Brighton in Week 2 action. Kickoff for both games is set for 7 p.m.

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