Choctaws head into bye 6-1 with win over Hornets

Dyer County's Jamin Gauldin (1) looks to pick up yards on a return during the Choctaws' win over South Gibson on Friday night at Choctaw Stadium in Newbern.

Photo/Courtesy of Spencer Noel

By SPENCER NOEL

Special to the State Gazette

Friday night, Dyer County faced off against a familiar opponent in the South Gibson Hornets, last season, the Choctaws fell in Medina on a go-ahead touchdown as time expired for the Hornets. This season, the Choctaws looked to get revenge, and they did as they handed the Hornets a 31-7 setback on Homecoming Night to move to 6-1 (1-0) heading into the bye week.

Dyer County running back Pereon Isom (3) heads to the end zone on a touchdown run during the Choctaw win.

Photo/Courtesy of Spencer Noel

The Choctaws got the ball to start the game, with Everett Kuykendall taking the kickoff to the Hornets 43-yard line. Dyer County gained five yards in three plays and was forced into a fourth and 5. The Choctaws elected to go for it, and they were successful, with Jamin Gauldin taking a short pass 10 yards for a first down. Three plays later on third and 3, Pereon Isom took a handoff down to the 10-yard line to set up first and goal. A Landon Daniels quarterback keeper got the Choctaws down to the 1-yard. A handoff to Ja’Bari Livingston the next play resulted in a Choctaws touchdown. The extra point by Tyler Fowlkes was good, making the score 7-0 Choctaws.

South Gibson took the kickoff to their own 23, but was forced to punt after three negative plays, which was blocked by Gavin Lynn, giving DC the ball at Hornets 10. After a penalty, the Choctaws were in third and goal from the 19, but a Daniels run got the ball back to the 10, which led to a field goal attempt by Fowlkes. The kick was good, extending the Dyer County lead 10-0.

The Hornets got the ball at their own 13. Two medium gains put them in a third and 1, which was picked up by Yahya Gaad. A handoff to Jaydon Reed gained 20, which moved South Gibson to the other side of midfield. A penalty and loss of yardage made it 3rd and 20, and multiple DC defenders combined for a sack, which forced a Hornet punt.

Choctaw Robert Straile (10) sacks the South Gibson quarterback.

Photo/Courtesy of Spencer Noel

DC started the drive at their own 47. On second and 4, Isom took a handoff all the way while shaking off multiple Hornet defenders for a Choctaws touchdown. The extra point by Fowlkes was good, which made the score 17-0 Choctaws.

South Gibson got the ball at their own 35. The Choctaws were able to force a punt, but a fumble gave the ball back to the Hornets at the Dyer County 23. Strong runs and penalties got South Gibson down to the 2. On second and goal, a direct snap to Gaad resulted in a Hornets touchdown. The extra point by Max McGowan was good, making the score 17-7.

Livingston took the ensuing kickoff to the Choctaws 46. After two minimal gains, Dyer County found themselves in a third and 9, but a penalty moved them further back. A sack on Daniels made it fourth and long for the Choctaws, which forced a punt. The Hornets got the ball at their own 36. However, the Choctaws were able to force a three-and-out and get the ball back with 1:46 left in the first half at their own 33. A Hornet sack on second and 10 made it third and 15. The Choctaws were held to no gain and forced to punt back to the Hornets. South Gibson got the ball at their own 33 with 42 seconds to play in the half. They were able to move down to the DC 30, but on second and 10, a deep shot to the end zone was intercepted by Isom, which led to the Choctaws running out the clock on the first half with a 17-7 lead.

The Hornets got the ball at midfield to start the second half, but went three-and-out. However, a bad snap gave Dyer County the ball at the Hornet 18. A handoff to Livingston got the Choctaws offense down the 6. Another handoff to Livingston found the end zone for the Choctaws score. The extra point by Fowlkes was good, which made the score 24-7 Choctaws.

Dyer County Head Coach David Whittle reached into the bag of tricks and Isom recovered an onside kick to give the Choctaws the ball at the Hornets 47. The Hornets were able to force a punt, which was downed at the 9-yard line. A run-heavy South Gibson drive saw them pick up one first down and then punt the ball back to Dyer County at their own 27.

After two minimal gains, a third-and-9 pass from Daniels to Devin Hayward picked up 10 for a first down. Three plays later on third and 6, a pass from Daniels to Kaleb Mahome picked up 15 and a first. On the next play, a long run from Korey Taylor got Dyer County down to the 10, which ended the third quarter.

The Choctaws got into a fourth-and-goal situation from the 2-yard line, and a Daniels keeper failed to reach the end zone, giving South Gibson the ball at the 1. After picking up a first, SGC got into a second and 10, which saw Robert Straile sack Hornets quarterback Layton Robertson. On the next play, multiple Dyer County defenders combined for a sack, forcing a Hornets punt from the shadows of their goal post. DCHS got the ball at the Hornets 44. After picking up a first down, the Choctaws were in a third and 7 at the 27. Daniels kept the ball and got down to the 24 to make it fourth and short, but a penalty on the Hornets made it first down. Four plays later, a handoff to Livingston went seven yards for a Dyer County score. Fowlkes’ extra point was good, making it 31-7 Dyer County.

South Gibson took the kickoff to their own 24-yard line. The Hornets were able to drive down the field, but were unable to convert on fourth and goal, and Daniels kneeled the ball with 11 seconds which saw time run out as the Choctaws won 31-7.

After the game, head coach David Whittle said he felt the team “showed a lot of grit”. “I thought we got after them defensively. The defense had a lot of big plays. Offensively, I feel like we did what we needed to do in the first half, and I wanted to take the air out of it in the second half and drain the clock. Two big plays in special teams as well, which were big momentum changers.” Whittle also mentioned how he wanted the team to rest over the bye week. “Next three games are all region games to close out the year. This is the most important part of the year.” Whittle felt the team had “way too many penalties” and they “need to be more disciplined”.

The Choctaws have next week off, the return to action at Fayette Ware on Friday, Oct. 18.