Choctaws handle Trezevant to cruise 2-0 start

Dyer County's Pereon Isom (3) heads towards the hole after taking the handoff from Choctaw quarterback Landon Daniels (7) during the orange and white's win over Trezevant on Friday night in Newbern.

Photo/Courtesy of Spencer Noel

By SPENCER NOEL

Special to the State Gazette

After a big win over in-county rival Dyersburg, the Dyer County Choctaws looked to keep the ball rolling over the Bears of Trezevant Friday night and did so in impressive fashion, taking a 54-14 win in Newbern.

Choctaw receiver Tevin Reed (6) gets knocked out of bounds at the 1-yard line during the second half of Friday's win.

Photo/Courtesy of Spencer Noel

After winning the coin toss, the Choctaws elected to receive the opening kick, and Jamin Gauldin took the kick to the Dyer County 47-yard line. After a 12-yard run by Jabari Livingston, Quarterback Landon Daniels threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Devin Hayward. The extra point by Tyler Fowlkes was good as the Choctaws jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

The Choctaws began to add to their lead when Landon Daniels threw a short pass that racked up yards after the catch to make it second and 1 before a penalty pushed them back. On the next play, multiple Bears combined for a sack on Daniels. On the next play, a toss to Jabari Livingston made up the 11 yards and picked up a first down for the Choctaws. The next play, a medium pass to Everett Kuykendall made it first and goal. A Quarterback Draw from Daniels got the Choctaws to the 2-yard line. A jet sweep to Gauldin was all the Choctaws needed from there to get into the end zone. The extra point was good, making the score 14-0.

On the next Dyer county drive, an 11-yard run by Livingston opened the drive then Landon Daniels threw a swing pass to Livingston which gained 20 yards. On the next play, Daniels threw to Kaleb Mahome for a 43 yard gain. Then, Pereon Isom took a handoff the rest of the way for the Choctaws touchdown. The extra point was good, extending the lead 21-0.

The Bears would field the ensuing kickoff and get stuffed at their own 12-yard line. On second and 3, Quarterback Kylan Perry fumbled the snap, giving the ball back to the Choctaws. After a penalty on Dyer County, the first-and-15 pass to Grant West got the yardage back and then some, making it second and 6 as time ran out in the first quarter.

To start the second period, a Livingston score was negated by a hold, but he would take the next handoff down to the 2 yard line. The next play seen Isom run for a touchdown. The extra point was good, making the score 28-0.

After a pair of turnovers, Trezevant finally got on the board. A Dyer County penalty moved the ball to the 6 yard line, then Kylan Perry took a Quarterback Draw 94 yards for a Bears Touchdown. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful as Gauldin tackled Mikal Chisum short of the goal line, which made the score 28-6.

Devin Hayward returned the short kick to the Bears 42-yard line. After a Gauldin touchdown was negated by penalty, the next play saw Landon Daniels throw to Jamin Gauldin for a long touchdown. The extra point was no good, making the score 34-6.

Trezevant took the ensuing kickoff to their own 10-yard line. Kylan Perry fumbled the snap into the end zone, which was recovered by Brayden Hendrix for a Dyer County Touchdown. The extra point was good, extending the Dyer County lead to 41-6.

Trezevant fielded the kickoff at their own 12-yard line. On second and 12, Kylan Perry threw an Interception to Darius Hayward which was returned for a Touchdown. The extra point by Daniel Johnson was good, making the score 48-6.

After another Bears interception, this time thrown by Maurice Williams to Pereon Isom and returned to the Bears 12-yard line, the Choctaws were in business. On second and 12, Tevin Reed took a pass to the 1-yard line. Korey Taylor scored on the next play. The extra point was no good, making the score 54-6.

Neither team was able to get on the board in the third quarter with the mercy rule in effect.

After a 10-yard gain to start the fourth quarter, the Bears would drive down the field and score on a Quarterback run from Kylan Perry. The two-point attempt was successful, making the score 54-14. Dyer County would run the rest of the time out, making the final score 54-14.

Head Coach David Whittle said after the game he was proud of how the team performed and executed the game plan this week and how they played with intensity from the first whistle, but said he wants the team to be more focused and clean up the penalties. “

Usually when you score two defensive touchdowns, you win football games,” Whittle said. Whittle was also asked if the team would prepare any differently this week as school is out Monday for Labor Day.

“Nothing will change,” the Choctaw head coach explained. “There may be no school, but we’re still gonna come in and practice. Whether it's Week 3 or Week 14, we don’t change the way we practice.”

Dyer County hosts Union City on Friday night at 7 p.m.

“It’s a big game,” Whittle said. “They beat us last year, so the kids have to stay focused and be ready to play.”