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Wednesday, November 16, 2005
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Slow start dooms Chargers
in playoff loss to Milan |
By Jason Peevyhouse
Sports Writer |
Most football experts will tell
you that it is hard to beat a good football team twice in
the same season, much less within a two-week span. The Milan
Bulldogs proved this theory to be true as the Bulldogs got a
20-0 first half head start, then held off a Westview rally
in the second half to take a 28-21 victory over the Chargers
Friday night in the second round of the TSSAA playoffs at
Martin.
The Chargers looked good on their first drive as they seemed
ready to put together a long scoring drive right off the
bat. After a short loss and an incomplete pass, Markei Guy
picked up a lengthy gain, getting a first down with a
15-yard run to the Westview 34-yard line. After an
eight-yard run by Guy, Josh Williams picked up another first
down with a seven-yard gain. When a pair of runs by Guy
could only gain short yardage, Brandon Pate found Cory Davis
for an 11-yard pickup through the air to take Westview into
Milan territory. After an eight-yard run by Guy to the
Bulldog 30-yard line, a pair of losses caused the drive to
stall at the Milan 33-yard line.
The Bulldogs took over on offense, getting a pair of
six-yard runs by Jeremy Kirby to get the drive started.
However, the third play of the drive was the big one as
Bulldog quarterback Lydale Wells found an open Jeremy Conley
for a 55-yard touchdown pass to put the Bulldogs on the
board with a 6-0 lead with 4:53 left in the first frame.
Westview struggled on offense on its next possession as a
sack by Milan’s Jacob Hemann would force the Chargers to
punt the ball back to the Bulldogs.
A pair of runs by Wells netted 12 yards for the Bulldogs as
well as a first down at the Westview 34-yard line. A 14-yard
run by Kirby got another first down. Westview stalled the
Bulldogs drive briefly, Wells found Conley again for a
scoring strike – this one from 17 yards out. Clay Mallard
added the PAT to make the score 13-0 with 8.8 seconds left
in the first frame.
Westview continued to struggle offensively. On the first
play of the second frame, which was the second play of the
ensuing Charger drive, Conley picked off an errant Westview
pass and returned it to the Charger 45-yard line. Three
plays later, Wells found an open Cornelius Coleman for a
41-yard touchdown pass with just over 10 minutes left in the
first half. Mallard added the extra point to make the score
20-0.
Westview went to Mr. Football finalist Guy on their next
possession as the senior running back carried the ball four
straight plays for 42 yards. However, the drive stalled
after run for no gain, a five-yard loss and an incomplete
pass.
Westview’s defense finally stepped up on the next drive.
After a 14-yard run by Wells on the first play, a pair of
10-yard penalties hampered the Milan offensive effort. After
the initial run, only an Austin Alred run for six yards took
the Bulldogs forward, who were forced to punt.
Westview’s offense got moving again. After runs from Guy and
Williams brought the Chargers to the brink of a first down
near midfield, Guy broke loose for a 26-yard run to the
Milan 18-yard line. From there, the senior running back
carried the ball the rest of the way, scoring on the next
play. Blake Alexander added the extra point to make the
score 20-7 with 3:44 left in the first half.
The Charger defense continued to shut down the Bulldog
offense as they held Milan negative yardage on the next
series before forcing a punt.
But, the momentum swung back into the Bulldogs favor on the
third play of the Westview drive as Conley snagged another
errant pass – this one in the end zone.
Despite runs of 22 yards by Coleman and 20 from Alred, the
Bulldogs were not able to get into the end zone again before
the half.
Westview was able to grab the momentum back early in the
second half as the Charger defense caused a fumble on the
first play which Austin Kendall recovered at the Milan
34-yard line. After a four-yard run to start the drive, Guy
capped the two-play drive with a 30-yard touchdown run. An
Alexander PAT cut the Milan lead to 20-14 with 11:03 left in
the third frame.
Milan was able to put a good drive together on its next
possession, taking the ball from their own 30-yard line all
the way to the Westview 19-yard line. However, for the
second time of the frame, a fumble ended the Milan drive as
Harrison Moore recovered the ball at the Charger 19-yard
line.
After a 13-yard run on the initial play of the next Westview
drive, the Charger offense stalled again, and the Chargers
were forced to punt.
Like the Chargers, the Bulldogs were able to get one first
down on their next possession, but were also forced to pass
the ball back to the Chargers.
The Chargers headed towards midfield at the end of the third
frame as a six-yard run by Guy gave the Westview offense
another set of downs heading into the final 12 minutes. But,
the Charger offense slumped again, as a short run was
countered with an incomplete pass and a four-yard loss,
forcing Westview to punt again.
Two plays into the next series, the Bulldogs snatched the
momentum back as Wells broke loose for a 61-yard touchdown
run. Wells then found Alred for the two-pointer to make the
score 28-14 with 9:44 left in the game.
However, the Chargers found right back. A 12-yard pass from
Pate to Alexander took the Chargers to midfield. After a
holding penalty pushed the Chargers back, a 19-yard pass
from Pate to Davis led to a two-yard run by Pate for another
first down. An six-yard run by Guy was followed by a penalty
on Milan for another first down. Three plays later, Pate
found Guy for a 15-yard pass to the Milan 8-yard line. After
a no-gain and a three-yard run by Guy, Alexander found an
open Davis for a four-yard scoring strike. Alexander’s PAT
cut the Milan lead to 28-21 with 2:45 left in the game.
However, the Bulldogs were able to recover the ensuing
onside kick and run out the clock to secure the win.
The loss ends the Chargers season with a record of 10-2 on
the year.
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Greenfield girls dominate
Dresden; Lions top GJHS |
By Jason Peevyhouse
Sports Editor The Dresden
Middle School Lions got their first in-county win of the
season, topping Greenfield 38-31. In girls action,
Greenfield remained undefeated in the county, topping the
Lady Lions 56-38.
DMS Lions 38
Greenfield Yellowjackets 31
Both teams started off slow, but a strong second frame
propelled the Lions to a seven-point win on Thursday night
at DMS.
Neither team could get much scoring going in the first
frame. Buckets from Daniel Harris and Josh Terry countered a
Tyler Jones deuce to give Dresden a 4-2 lead after one
frame.
Greenfield was able to take the lead early in the second
frame with a three-point play from Jess Castleman. However,
Dresden answered back with a three-point play from Terry to
take a 9-7 lead with 4:15 left in the first half.
Greenfield Lady ’Jackets 56
DMS Lady Lions 38
After a slow start, the Lady ’Jackets were able to build a
10-point lead after one frame and never look back, taking an
18-point win on Thursday night at Dresden Middle School.
Dresden was able to hold an early lead, as a three-point
play by Sarah Morton gave the Lady Lions a 5-4 lead with
3:52 left in the first frame. But, a free throw from Jordan
Galey, followed by a jumper from Katie McCall and a pair of
free throws from Mallory Robinson gave the lead back to the
Lady ’Jackets.
(Read the rest of this story in the November 16th
edition of the Dresden Enterprise.) |
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Local Teams ready for start of 2005-06 hardcourt season |
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By J. R. Peevyhouse
Sports Editor
All four local teams will have
new foes and challenges waiting for them as they enter the
2005-06 high school basketball season.
Dresden, Gleason and Greenfield will enter a 10-team,
District 14-A that includes Bradford, Halls, Humboldt, Lake
County, Peabody, South Fulton and Union City. Westview, the
county’s lone Class AA representative, will have Crockett
County, Dyer County, Dyersburg, Gibson County, Milan and
Obion County on its district schedule.
Girls
Dresden
Black and gold fans will have a new set of Lady Lions to
root for this season as a new starting lineup will take the
floor as DHS graduated its entire starting lineup from the
2004-05 season – three of which are playing at the
collegiate level.
Gleason
After winning 28 games last season, Coach Randy Frazier and
the Gleason Lady Bulldogs are looking to improve on last
season’s early exit from the regional tournament in
February.
Greenfield
After losing only one player from last season’s squad, the
Greenfield ’Jackets will look to continue the improvement
that began last season.
Westview
The Lady Chargers set records last season – both locally and
nationally. But, the Westview girls were eliminated in the
first round of the TSSAA State Tournament last spring and
will look to make a return trip to Mufreesboro this season.
Boys
Dresden
The Dresden Lions may be one of the most balanced teams as
far as talent in high school basketball as anywhere from 13
to 14 players could see playing time on a given night.
Gleason
Gleason head coach Pete Angelos’ opinion of the new District
14-A is quite clear.
Greenfield
After reaching the TSSAA State Tournament in back-to-back
seasons, the Greenfield Yellowjackets were bounced from the
Region 8-A tournament by eventual state runner-up Peabody in
the first round of regional play.
Westview
Like the Lady Chargers did last season, new head coach Brian
Haskins and the Westview Chargers will look to use their
speed to lead them to victories this season.
(Read the rest of this story in the November 16th
edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)
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