Dyersburg falls to Charger, Simpson aerial attack in region play

Westview quarterback Graham Simpson (6) scrambles for a gain as Trojan defenders Kendrick Gourley (4) and Terrell Ragland (14) converge for a tackle during Dyersburg's loss to the Chargers on Friday night at J.C. Sawyers Stadium.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

Even after a haymaker from Westview on the first play of the game, Dyersburg (4-3, 2-2) was able to counter once but could not keep up with a high-powered Charger (7-0, 4-0) offense as the Trojans fell at home in Region 7-3A action on Friday night at J.C. Sawyers Stadium.

Trojan running back Peyton Hill (5) looks to pick up more yards on a run during Dyersburg's loss to Westview.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

After a kickoff return to their own 36-yard line, Westview struck on the first play of the game as freshman quarterback Graham Simpson hit an open Cooper Spaulding in stride for a 64-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage. Cody Meeks added the two-point conversion to put Westview on top 8-0 early in the game.

Dyersburg was able to get things going early, too. Runs from Necari Hall and Peyton Hill took the Trojans across midfield to the Westview 46-yard line. After Hill picked up a first down on a run, two plays later a personal foul penalty on the Chargers proved costly as it took the Trojans to the Westview 20-yard line. A Hall run netted four yards before Hill put Dyersburg on the board two plays later with a 16-yard run. Elian Gonzalez added the extra point to cut the Westview lead to 8-7 with 7:33 left in the opening quarter.

The Trojan defense looked better its second time on the field, holding the Chargers to just four yards and a rare three-and-out.

Trojan quarterback Logston Morgan (18) looks to go off the block of center Jaxen Perkins (61) on a quarterback sneak. The play resulted in a touchdown for Dyersburg.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

Dyersburg was able to get some runs going thanks to carries from A.J. Higgins and Hill. But, their drive stalled near the Westview 30-yard line as the Trojans were forced to punt themselves.

Westview had a quick answer as Simpson hit Meeks for a 52-yard pass which took the Chargers from one 24-yard line to the other to set up a Simpson pass to Donteze Joy. Joy then added the two-point conversion to extend their lead to 16-7 with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Trojans were held again on their next possession after a 10-yard run by Hill as Dyersburg was held on the next three plays and forced to punt. Westview got the ball at the 29-yard line then scored on the second play as Simpson found Miles Brown for a 71-yard touchdown. The extra point was goot, putting the Chargers up 23-7 midway through the second quarter.

Dyersburg got its offense going again on the next drive, getting a 16-yard run by Hill across midfield. A five-yard keep from quarterback Logston Morgan and an 18-yard carry by Higgins set up a seven-yard quarterback sneak by Morgan to cut into the Westview lead. Hill then added the two-point conversion to trim the Charger lead to 23-13 with 5:06 left in the half.

The Charger offense continued to strike through the air, as Simpson went 5-for-5 on the next possession, capping the scoring drive with a seven-yard touchdown by Spaulding with 1:40 left in the half. The extra point extended the Charger lead to 30-15.

Dyersburg caught a tough break on the next possession as a fumble on the second play gave the Chargers really good field position with just under a minute left.

It took four plays for the Chargers to get back into the end zone as a Simpson pass to Joy tacked onto the Westview lead. The extra point pushed the Chargers' lead to 37-15 at the half.

Westview added to its lead in the third quarter with a four-yard scoring strike from Simpson to Brown with 7:03 left in the frame. The extra point pushed the Charger lead to 44-15.

Dyersburg was able to get onto the board on its next possession. A Morgan pass to Kendrick Gourley took the Trojans across midfield to the Westview 19-yard line. Though the Trojan drive looked like it might stall briefly, a pair of Charger penalties (including a 15-yard personal foul that wiped out a loss by the Trojans) put Dyersburg on the Westview 2-yard line. From there, a Morgan sneak was followed by a one-yard Hall touchdown run. Gonzalez's extra point cut the Westview lead to 44-22 with 2:53 left in the third quarter.

Westview pulled further away from there, though, getting a 46-yard touchdown pass from Simpson to Meeks late in the third quarter. A pass from Simpson to Joy on the two-point attempt gave the Chargers a 52-22 lead and brought the mercy rule into play.

Westview tacked on one more score with 7:34 left in the game, getting a 13-yard run by Asa Barnes. The extra point failed, leaving the Westview lead at 58-22 for the rest of the game.

Hill led the Trojans in rushing with 123 yards on 19 carries. As a team, Dyersburg had 222 yards on the ground and 43 yards through the air.

On the other side of the field, Simpson was 22-for-26 with 458 yards and six touchdowns through the air.

Dyersburg is off next week as the Trojans have their bye week. The black and gold return to action on Friday, Oct. 18 when the Trojans host Scotts Hill for Homecoming 2024 at 7 p.m. at J.C. Sawyers Stadium.