Choctaws pull away in second half for region win

A swarm of Dyer County defenders meet Crockett County running back DK Woods (32) at the line of scrimmage to halt a Cavalier gain during the Dyer County win in Region 7-4A play on Thursday night in Newbern.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

With the game tied at a touchdown apiece going into halftime, Dyer County made sure to make the most of its second-half possessions as the Choctaws (5-1, 1-0) scored a pair of touchdowns in the final two quarters to take a 21-7 win over visiting Crockett County (4-2, 0-1) on Thursday night in Newbern.

Dyer County running back Ja'Bari Livingston (28) breaks free for the start of what turned into a 46-yard touchdown run during the second quarter of the Choctaw win over Crockett County.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

“The defense was the story of the night,” Dyer County Head Coach David Whittle said. “Our defense pitched a shutout.

“I thought we really disrupted their quarterback. When he tried to throw, we hit him a ton and kind of got him off rhythm. He'd had three long touchdown passes the week before. On the back end, we covered the guys and came up and were physical. We made the tackles. It was one of those things where if they threw a five-yard hitch, it was going to be five yards. I was proud of the way we played on defense tonight.”

But, the second half started rough for the Choctaws a fumble on the first play of the second half gave the Cavaliers excellent field position at the Dyer County 12-yard line. Dyer County's defense continued to do what it did during the first half – keep the Cavaliers away from the end zone. A fumble by Crockett County on the second play of ensuing drive pushed the visitors back to the 20-yard line. A pass interference call was able to put the Cavaliers in better field goal range on fourth down but the kick sailed wide right to keep the score tied at 7-7 with 9:07 left in the third quarter.

Choctaw punt returner Jamin Gauldin (1) makes a defender miss during Dyer County's win over Crockett County on Thursday night.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

With the ball starting at their own 20-yard line after the missed kick, Dyer County with to senior Ja'Bari Livingston who quickly picked up a small gain to the get the Choctaws started. A pass from Landon Daniels to Devin Hayward two plays later picked up a first down for the orange and white. Daniels legs got the Choctaws across midfield for another fresh set of downs with a 21-yard run to the Crockett County 39-yard line. From there, Livingston got the Choctaws into the red zone with an 8-yard run then a 16-yard carry to the Crockett County 9-yard line. A five-yard gain by the senior bruising back followed before a fumble briefly halted the Choctaw progress. But, sophomore Pereon Isom capped the drive on the next play with a seven-yard touchdown run. Tyler Fowlkes extra point gave Dyer County a 14-7 lead with 3:05 left in the third quarter.

The Choctaw defense continued to keep the Cavalier offense in check but another turnover by Dyer County ended the next orange and white possession.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Crockett County looked ready to head down the field but a pair of incomplete passes stopped the Cavaliers at the Dyer County 30-yard line.

Neither team was able to get their offense moving and exchanged punts as Dyer County got the ball back at the Choctaw 20-yard line. Two big runs by Livingston took the Choctaws near midfield before the drive was stalled and Dyer County was forced to punt again.

The Cavaliers were again halted by the orange and white defense as three of the four passes Crockett County threw ended up on the ground which gave Dyer County the ball at the Cavalier 27-yard line.

The Choctaws were then able to put the game away as Livingston broke through on the fourth play of the drive to score from 21 yards out. The extra point gave the Choctaws a 21-7 lead with 2:49 left in the game.

Though the Cavaliers were able to get near midfield with a hook-and-ladder pass, the exchange was fumbled to limit the play's damage. Dyer County's defense then held tight to end the threat and send the Choctaw offense back on the field for the victory formation to seal the orange and white win.

“Offensively, we moved the ball but we've got to hang onto the thing,” Whittle added. “We can't give up an interception for a touchdown.

“Those are learning things. When you have four turnovers on offense and still win the ball game – you hate you turned the ball over but it's always good to get the win. We had too many turnovers and you usually don't get the win when you turn the ball over that many times.”

Crockett County's lone score came, actually, against the Dyer County offense as Gabe Dupree snagged an errant Choctaw pass and returned it 43 yards for the score. The Cavalier extra point put Crockett County on top 7-0 with 7:50 left in the first quarter.

The score remained at Crockett County up by a touchdown until late in the half as Livingston broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run with 2:05 left in the second quarter. Fowlkes added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.

Dyer County's defense had one more big play in the half as Darius Hayward snagged a Crockett County pass for an interception with 35 seconds left. But, the teams traded turnovers as Dyer County fumbled the ball away early in the ensuing drive as the score remained tied at 7-7 at the half.

“Offensively, we did generate 21 points,” Whittle explained. “It wasn't all bad. At times, we ran the ball well but we didn't throw the ball well.

“We didn't throw it just a whole lot. We had some drops and gave us some things we didn't see on film. It gives us something to teach on film this coming week.”

The win comes just a six days removed from the Choctaws suffering their first loss of the season last Friday night in Martin.

“We've got a senior-led group,” the Choctaw head coach said. “The kids didn't panic. The kids wanted to get back on the field and play.

“It was a short week with the game moving up a night. I thought we were a little bit sluggish offensively in the first half but we did move the ball. Defensively, I thought we tackled their big back well because he's a really good running back. They've got some weapons on their side of the ball and I thought we shut them down really good.”

Dyer County returns to non-region play next Friday when the Choctaws celebrate Homecoming 2024 on Friday, Oct. 4 when the orange and white host South Gibson in Newbern.