Trojans dominate Liberty Tech on Senior Night, improves to 6-3 on the year

Dyersburg High School honored the senior members of the Trojan football team on Thursday night with its annual Senior Night ceremony before the black and gold's game with Liberty. Members honored were (front, from left) Kalik McElrath, Grant Dykes, Alfred Johnson, A.J. Higgins; (back, from left) Dyersburg Head Coach Bart Stowe, Trenton Jones, Kalen Edwards, Charles Jordan, Breyden Turnage, Lucas Pounders and Anna Jones.

Photo/Courtesy of Spencer Jones

By SPENCER NOEL

Special to the State Gazette

Due to Hurricane Helene, the Dyersburg Trojans were forced to move their Homecoming & Senior Night festivities. Liberty Tech agreed to play this week’s game at Dyersburg, instead of at Liberty Tech, to allow Dyersburg High School to recognize the Class of 2025 at J.C. Sawyers Stadium. The Trojans were able to cap off Senior Night with a big 54-8 Thursday Night Football win against the Crusaders.

The Trojans got the ball to start the game at their own 45. The Trojans got to the Crusader 40-yard line in two plays, then A.J. Higgins took a handoff the rest of the way for a Trojans touchdown. The extra point by Elian Gonzalez was good, which made the score 7-0 Trojans.

Liberty Tech got the ensuing kickoff at their own 16. A pass to Mekhii Long from Danterrious Marsh gained 22 after no gain on the first play of the drive. However, two negative runs and an incomplete pass forced a punt. The Trojans got the ball at their own 45. Higgins took the opening handoff 30 yards to the Crusader 25. On the next play, Ty Seaton made an impressive catch on the pass from Logston Morgan for a Dyersburg score. The extra point was good, which made the score 14-0 Trojans.

Liberty Tech took the kickoff to their own 45, but three negative runs forced a punt. Dyersburg got the ball at their own 47-yard line. A toss to Necari Hall on the first play gained 15. Then, a pass from Morgan to Quincey Terry, Jr. gained 21. The next play, a handoff to Peyton Hill went the rest of the way for a Trojans score. The extra point was good, increasing the Trojan lead to 21-0.

The Crusaders got the ball at their own 23. A wildcat quarterback run from Long gained 20 yards on the first play of the drive, and a penalty moved the ball to the DB 42. However, three more negative plays forced a Liberty Tech punt. The Trojans got the ball at their own 14-yard line. Higgins took a toss 25 yards on the first play. Two plays later, he took another toss to the Crusader four-yard line. On the next play, Hill bullied his way into the endzone for a Dyersburg touchdown. The extra point was good, which made the score 28-0 Trojans.

Liberty Tech got the kickoff at the 20. On second and 15, a pass from Ethan Schweer to Keylon Mclilly picked up 17 for a first down. On 3rd and 5, a pass from Schweer to Tavion Russell picked up a first down. On second and 10, a pass from Schweer to Long picked up 20 for a first down. A penalty moved the ball back to Midfield, and a bad snap recovered by Braylon Jones gave the ball back to the Trojans at the Crusader 35. A handoff from Trenton Jones to Hill on second and 10 went the distance for a Trojans score. The extra point by Jackson Duggan was no good, making it 34-0 Trojans.

The Crusaders got the ball at their own 43. Schweer recovered a fumbled snap on the first play and gained 10 yards for a first down. However, three negative plays forced a punt, which was downed at the Trojans 22. On the first play, Higgins took a toss 41 yards for a first down. After five more short runs, a pitch to Higgins went 27 yards for a Trojans touchdown. The extra point was good, making it 41-0 Dyersburg.

Liberty Tech took the ensuing kickoff to their own 45, but Marsh kneeled down to end the first half.

The Crusaders got the ball to start the second half at their own 20. On third and 15, a Schweer pass was intercepted by Alfred Johnson, giving Dyersburg the ball at the Crusader 33. On the first play, a toss to Terrell Ragland went 13 yards for a first down. On the next play, a handoff to Bradley Walker got down to the 11. On the next play. A handoff to Cortez Barbee went the rest of the way for the Dyersburg score. The extra point was good, making it 48-0 Trojans.

Liberty Tech took the ensuing kickoff to their own 25. On second and long, a pass by Schweer was intercepted by Seth Pounders and was taken to the house for a Trojans pick-6. The 2-point attempt was no good, making it 54-0 Trojans.

The Crusaders took the ensuing kickoff to their own 41. After driving down to the 10, a pass from Schweer to Long for a Crusaders touchdown. The 2-point attempt by Long was good, which ended the game with the final score 54-8.

After the game, head coach Bart Stowe said he was proud of the performance on all 3 phases, and was proud of his seniors for everything they had accomplished at Dyersburg High School. “I am happy that these seniors got to get the victory in these black home jerseys one last time.” Dyersburg will hit the road to take on the Ripley Tigers on Friday, Nov. 1 to conclude the regular season