Dyersburg bounces back with big win at Lake County

Dyersburg defenders Grant Dykes (left), Breyden Turnage (middle), and Kalen Edwards (right) zero in on the Lake County quarterback during the Trojans' win over the Falcons on Friday night in Tiptonville.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

The Trojan football team rebounded from its loss last week in the season opener, amassing almost 300 yards on the ground on Dyersburg's (1-1) way to a 49-6 win over Lake County in Tiptonville on Friday night.

Trojan running back AJ Higgins (left) reads a block on the way to a touchdown score during the first quarter on Friday night.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

“I am so proud of the boys because they bounced back,” Dyersburg Head Coach Bart Stowe said. “Coming off our loss, we had to learn from it, move forward, and push on. The guys did.

“The coaches did a really good job of pushing the boys this week and the boys responded.”

Dyersburg scored early and often as the Trojans to just the third play to break a big run as carries from Peyton Hill and AJ Higgins set up a 64-yard run by Hill to put the Trojans on the board. Elian Gonzalez added the extra point to give Dyersburg a 7-0 lead with 5:28 left in the first quarter.

The Trojans didn’t waste time making a big play in another of the three phases of the game as the Falcons didn’t field the ensuing kickoff and was fielded by Alfred Johnson to give the black and gold the ball at the Lake County 30-yard line. From there, it took only another three plays for the Trojans to find the end zone as a 10-yard run by Higgins put Dyersburg back on the board. Gonzalez added the extra point to extend the Dyersburg lead to 14-0 with 4:17 left in the first quarter.

The Trojans continued to add to their lead later in the first quarter. After a defensive stop, Dyersburg used a five-play, 58-yard drive to get on the board again. This time Necari Hall capped the drive with a nine-yard run for the score. Gonzalez’s extra point pushed the Trojan lead to 21-0 with one minute left in the quarter.

With the black and gold defense holding the Falcons at bay, Dyersburg picked up another touchdown early in the third quarter. A 30-yard pass from Logston Morgan to Kendrick Gourley capped a three-play drive. Gonzalez nailed his fourth PAT to push the Trojan lead to 28-0.

After another Dyersburg defensive stop, the Trojans got on the board with another quick strike attack. This time, a 48-yard run by Higgins set up a Trenton Jones pass to Gonzalez for a 17-yard scoring play. Gonzalez then added the extra point to put Dyersburg on top 35-0 with 7:06 left in the first half.

Lake County was able to get on the board on the next drive. A 28-yard run by Lake County’s Cade Lanier made for the only blemish on the Trojan defense’s sheet on Friday night, coming with 13 seconds left in the half and trimming the halftime score to 35-6 in Dyersburg’s favor.

With the clock running and the quarters shortened to eight minutes in the second half, Dyersburg tacked on a touchdown in each of the final two frames. Terrell Ragland scored on a 35-yard run with just under five minues left in the third quarter while Cortez Barbee added a 15-yard run with about four minutes left in the fourth. Jackson Duggan added the extra point in each case to account for the Trojan scoring.

Hill led the way for the Trojans on the ground with five carries on 103 yards with a touchdown. Higgins added four carries for 61 yards and a score.

All together, Dyersburg rushed for 294 yards on 23 carries while Trojan quarterbacks Jones and Morgan were 2-for-3 with 46 yards through the air.

Dyersburg’s defense held Lake County to just 128 yards on 27 carried on the ground and 32 through the air.

Stowe agreed the big win over the Falcons along with a strong performance on each side of the ball could give the Trojans momentum heading into next week’s Region 7-3A opener at Covington.

“That’s what you want heading into that big game,” the Trojan head coach explained. “We know it’s going to be a real tough one and we’re looking forward to the competition.”

Stowe added the Trojans had a really good crowd on Friday night for the game with Lake County which also featured four matches from Pro Wrestling Mid South.

“We brought a good crowd and I am really appreciative of our fans,” Stowe said. “We have great fan who got to see a little wrestling and got to see a little football.”

Dyersburg opens region play next week when the Trojans travel to Covington to take on the Chargers at 7 p.m. on Friday night.