Choctaws struggle in loss to Huntingdon

Due to some harsh expected weather, the Dyer County Choctaws hit the road to Huntingdon a day earlier than expected for their matchup with the Mustangs.

The Choctaws were without their top three receivers on offense on Thursday (Marcus Parr, Mark Watson and Alex Newbaker), which allowed the Mustangs to cruise to a 34-3 victory over Dyer County.

"I'm not going to make any excuses about our injured players," said Choctaw head coach Adam Renshaw. "The 11 on the field are the Dyer County Choctaws, and we just didn't get it done tonight."

Dyer County was only able to pick up three first downs in the game, while the Choctaw defense had their hands full dealing with a tough three-back attack from the Mustangs, including Kenean Holder who is considered one of the top backs in West Tennessee.

"We haven't defended the run very well all year," said Renshaw. "That is something we need to get in the weight room and work on."

The Mustangs moved the ball exceptionally well on their opening drive of the game which was capped off by a 7-yard touchdown run by Britton Thompson, that gave Huntingdon an early 7-0 advantage.

After a Dyer County three and out, the Mustangs added to their lead with an 82-yard run straight up the middle by Holder, which stretched the Huntingdon lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

The Mustangs stopped the Choctaws on another three and out, and stretched their first quarter lead to 21-0 on Holder's second touchdown of the game late in the opening period.

Holder added his third touchdown of the first half at the beginning of the second quarter, when the talented back scampered 20 yards for the score, which pushed the Mustangs lead to 28-0.

Thompson pushed the Mustangs lead to 34-0 with three minutes left in the first half, when the speedy corner back jumped an out-route and sprinted 25 yards for the touchdown.

With a 34-0 lead going into the halftime break, the Mustangs only played their starters on one drive in the second half.

"All I know is tough times don't last, tough people do," said Renshaw. "We are going to have to go back to work, and just see how tough we are."

Unfortunately for the Choctaws, Dyer County couldn't do much against the Mustangs defense and the young squad had to settle for a late fourth-quarter 40-yard field goal by Josh Despain for their only points of the game.

The Choctaws have a bye week next Friday, which allows Dyer County to rest their injured players for their homecoming matchup against Trezevant on Oct. 23.

"Our guys have to have a gut check right now," said Renshaw. "We have some really good kids, but we have to come back and coach harder, practice harder and we have to play harder."