JHS SUFFERS FIRST LOSS TO DYERSBURG

DYERSBURG, Tenn. -- Dyersburg High's football team used the big play, rolling up 327 rushing yards and claiming its fifth straight victory by beating visiting Jackson 26-14 Friday night.

The Trojans negated the Indians' running attack, limiting Jackson to 45 total yards, seven in the second half.

"We had problems running the ball," said Jackson coach Carl Gross, whose squad fell to 3-1. "They stacked up nine people in the box, so you need to throw it."

And the Indians did that very well. Chris Stockton was 12-for-26 for 164 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He left the game late in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury.

Tory Meyr caught eight passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.

"Tory played a super game," said Gross. "Stockton stood back and took shots. I thought he handled himself well. We had our bright spots."

The Trojans broke the ice midway in the first quarter. Sophomore quarterback Josh Dye scored on Dyersburg's first series with a 12-yard run at the 7:45 mark. The drive covered 82 yards on five plays and took 2:13. The kick failed, but the Trojans led 6-0.

The score was set up by the big play -- senior David Campbell's 62-yard run. More from him later.

In the second quarter, Jackson took a brief lead. Meyr caught a 42-yard toss from Stockton. Josh Hopkins' conversion gave the Indians a brief 7-6 lead at the 3:14 mark.

The Trojans burned clock on their next drive. Ten plays and 72 yards later, Victor Driver gave Dyersburg the lead for good, scoring on a reverse with 16 seconds left in the half. The PAT failed, but the Trojans led at the half 12-7.

"That reverse is one that got away from us," said Gross. "That broke our back. They went into the half with momentum."

Dyersburg used the big play again, this time on Campbell's 62-yard kickoff return to start the second half. His gallop landed the Trojans on the Jackson 30. Two plays later, Erick Holland skirted 18 yards and Mark Edwards added the PAT to give Dyersburg a 19-7 lead.

Jackson came back later in the third. Stockton found Marion Whitney for a 38-yard pass at the 6:54 mark. Hopkins added the kick and the Indians had trimmed the margin to five, 19-14.

The Trojans implemented another big play midway through the fourth. Campbell bolted up the middle for a 59-yard score. Edwards added the PAT, capping a seven-play, 63-yard drive.

"Dyersburg executed well. You can't take anything away from them," Gross said. "Win, lose or draw, we needed a game like this to try to fix what's broken."