DMS outlasts Millington, wins Battle of Trojans in overtime

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

After 32 minutes of back-and-forth scoring which could give defensive coordinators nightmares, the Dyersburg Middle School football team brought an exciting night on the gridiron to a close with a 10-yard touchdown by Devanti White, Jr. on the first play of the Trojans’ first possession in overtime gave the DMS black and gold a 36-30 win over Millington at J.C. Sawyers Stadium on Tuesday night.

This was not the first time White gave DMS the lead as he broke free late in the third quarter with a 41-yard touchdown run to put Dyersburg back on top with 1:13 left in the frame. LaDarius Howard tacked on the two-point conversion to give the DMS Trojans a 30-24 lead.

As they had been doing throughout the game, the Millington Trojans answered on their very next possession. But, Dyersburg nearly prevented the Millington rally as the hosting Trojans forced a fourth-and-goal from the DMS 3 before a touchdown by the MCMS Trojans tied the game at 30-30. Dyersburg’s defense was quick to recover, stopping the two-point conversion short of the goal line to preserve the tie with 3:57 left in regulation.  

Dyersburg looked poised to continue the back-and-forth scoring as the Trojans were able to drive as far as the Millington 39-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.

Millington had a taste of bad luck on the first play of the ensuing drive which began with 1:39 left in regulation. A bad snap on first down pinned the Trojans from MCMS deeper in their own territory. This lead to Dyersburg stopping Millington with 23 seconds left – but also burning their timeouts in the process.

Dyersburg was able to get a couple plays off – both – runs but Millington was up to the task and ended the Trojan threat to force overtime.

The DMS defense stepped up in the overtime frame, holding Millington out of the end zone.

Then, on the first play of the Dyersburg possession, White found a seam with a good block then made it to the end zone to give the DMS Trojans the overtime win.

Millington got on the board first but Dyersburg answered with a White touchdown to tie the game with 5:30 left in the opening quarter. Millington answered that touchdown but Dyersburg battled back to take the lead on a Howard touchdown run and a two-point conversion with about four minutes left in the second quarter. A quarterback keeper late in the second quarter gave Millington an 18-14 lead at the half.

Both teams traded punches through the third quarter to lead to the overtime finish.

Dyersburg returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 24 when the Trojans travel to Brownsville to take on Haywood at 6:30 p.m.

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