Choctaws come up short against Westview, falls to 4-1

Dyer County quarterback Landon Daniels drops back to pass during the Choctaws' loss to Westview at Martin on Friday night.

Photo/Courtesy of Spencer Noel

By SPENCER NOEL

Special to the State Gazette

With both teams entering the game ranked in the Top 4 in the state in their respective classifications, the Choctaws (4-1) looked to take down the juggernaut Chargers from Westview (5-0, 2-0). While both teams looked to keep their perfect records, only one succeeded in their mission as the Chargers were too much for the Choctaws to handle, with a final score 47-14 from Hardy Graham Stadium at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Dyer County's Ja'Bari Livingston looks to get around the corner of the Westview defense during Friday night action at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Photo/Courtesy of Spencer Noel

Westview went three-and-out on their first drive. The Choctaws were methodically driving down the field when Cooper Spaulding intercepted a Landon Daniels pass. Three plays later, Christopher Damron scored for the Chargers on a short handoff. The fake extra point attempt was successful, letting Westview jump to a 8-0 lead.

The ensuing kick was taken by Jamin Gauldin to the Charger 46-yard line. After a handoff to Ja’Bari Livingston lost yardage, a Landon Daniels pass to Gauldin went 53 yards for the Choctaws score. The extra point was blocked, making the score 8-6 in favor of the Chargers.

Westview got the ball at their own 29. It only took the Chargers three plays to get to the end zone, with a screen pass to Miles Brown from Graham Simpson for a 27-yard score. The extra point was no good, making the score 14-6 Chargers.

Dyer County got the ball at the 20 due to a touchback. Dyer County lost yardage on three straight plays, which resulted in a punt, which gave Westview the ball at their own 48. Graham Simpson would score on a six-yard quarterback dive after a five-play drive. The extra point was good, making the score 21-6 in favor of Westview.

After another touchback, the Choctaws went three-and-out, which gave the ball back to the Chargers at their own 45. Westview also went three-and-out, and Dyer County got the ball at their own 28. After a strong drive, Dyer County got into a fourth and 9. A pass from Landon Daniels was intercepted by Christopher Damron, giving Westview the ball at their own 14. Three plays into the drive, Graham Simpson was sacked by Gavin Lynn. Two plays later on third and 30, Simpson threw a screen pass to Cody Meeks which got all the way down to the Choctaws 10 yard line. On the next play, a pass from Simpson to Donteze Joy scored for the Chargers. The extra point was good, making the score 28-6. Both teams exchanged punts, ending the half.

Dyer County got the ball to start the second half at their own 7. After a quarterback keeper set up a third and 7, Landon Daniels threw a pass to Devin Hayward and picked up the first down for the Choctaws. On second and 6, a pitch to Livingston gained 13 for another first down, but Daniels was sacked on the next play. The drive stalled and Dyer County punted back to Westview, giving the Chargers the ball at their own 37. On the first play, Christopher took a slant from Graham Simpson for a 63-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good, making the score 34-6 Westview.

The Choctaws got the ball at their own 20-yard line. On the first play, a handoff to Livingston broke off a 24 yard run. After a first down via penalty, Korey Taylor took a handoff 43 yards for the touchdown. The two-point attempt was good with a run from quarterback Landon Daniels, which made the score 34-14 Westview.

Westview got the kickoff at their own 40. On the first play, a Graham Simpson pass to Donteze Joy went the distance for a Westview touchdown. The extra point was good, making the score 41-14 Chargers.

Ja’Bari Livingston took the ensuing kickoff to the Westview 47-yard line. Two straight runs by Korey Taylor got the Choctaws to a third and 1. Taylor took the third and 1 handoff for a yard, which was enough to move the chains. After two losses in a row, Landon Daniels was sacked by multiple Charger defenders. The Choctaws punted to Westview, giving the Chargers the ball at their own 25-yard line. A penalty negated a long Westview touchdown, but the next play was a screen pass that went 30 yards for the Chargers, which ended the quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, a pass from Graham Simpson to Tyler Belew went 47 yards for the Westview score. The extra point was blocked by KeAnthony Barbee, making the score 47-14 Chargers.

The Chargers forced a Dyer County punt on the ensuing drive, Westview committed a Roughing the Punter penalty, which was enough yardage for the Choctaws first down. A Landon Daniels first down run was negated by a Penalty, which resulted in a Choctaws punt, giving Westview the ball at their own 37-yard line.

Westview ran out the remaining time on the clock, with the final score 47-14.

After the game, head coach David Whittle commended the Chargers offensive and defensive lines, commenting that “...it’s hard to win football games when you’re getting beat up front.” Whittle also said this game was “A good measuring stick on areas we are good in, and areas we need to improve as we look towards Crockett County next week.”

Up next, the Choctaws return home to Newbern, where they will host the Cavaliers Friday, Sept. 27.