Dierks struggles in loss to Strong
DIERKS, Ark.—Strong proved to be better mudders than Dierks as the Bulldogs were able to handle the horrible field conditions at Ayers Field on Friday after a steady rain most of the day.
Strong (8-4) rushed for 325 yards and coasted to a 27-8 victory in a Class 2A playoff game to advance to play Des Arc next week.
Dierks' season ends with an 11-1 record.
It didn't help that two of Dierks' top running backs, Trendon McKinney and Andy Tedder were unable to play because of knee injuries suffered in last weeks' game.
McKinney had a total of 1380 yards for a 6.9 average and had scored 20 touchdowns.
Dierks came into the contest with a 43.5 scoring average in its 11 games.
Strong took advantage of recovering two fumbles, one of which led to a touchdown, as the Bulldogs took a 14-0 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs had 148 yards rushing in the first half while holding Dierks to just 51 yards.
Strong got on the scoreboard first
when recovering a Dierks' fumble at the Outlaws' 15-yard line. Three plays later, Antonio Green scored on a 10-yard run. Quarterback Jacoby Heard ran it in for a two-point conversion on the first play of the second quarter.
On the Bulldogs' next possession, Trevion Hicks broke loose on an 82-yard run. The run for the two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 14-0 with 7:13 left in the second quarter.
Dierks got good field position after the ensuing kickoff when Maclane Moore returned the kick 26 yards to the 46. The Outlaws marched down to the 19 where the drive ended on downs.
Strong put the game out of reach with two third-quarter touchdowns.
After taking over at its 35-yard line, Green broke loose on a 58yard run to make the score, 21-0 early in the third quarter.
On the Bulldogs' next possession, Heard faked handoff and scampered 66 yards for the touchdown with 1:44 left in the third period.
After a short punt, Dierks took possession at the Strong 45-yard line. Three plays later, Tyler Kesterson rolled around the left side of the Outlaws' for a 25yard touchdown. Tyler Narens passed to Trent Coffman for a two-point conversion.
Caleb Dunn was Dierks' leading rusher with 116 yards on 27 carries. strong strong 0 0 14 14 13 13 0 0 — — 27 27 dierks dierks 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 8 — — 8 8
second second Quarter Quarter S-Antonio S-Antonio Green Green 10 10 run run (Jacoby (Jacoby Heard Heard run) run) 11:54. 11:54. S-Trevion S-Trevion Hicks Hicks 82 82 run run (run (run failed) failed) 7:13. 7:13.
Third Third Quarter Quarter S-Green S-Green 58 58 run run (Devante (Devante Lovett Lovett kick) kick) 7:28. 7:28. S-Heard S-Heard 66 66 run run (kick (kick failed) failed) 1:44. 1:44.
Fourth Fourth Quarter Quarter
D-Tyler Kesterson 25 run (Trent Coffman pass from Tyler Narens) 5:08.
strong dierks First Downs 9 11 Yards Rushing 325 223 Yards Passing 0 6 Passes A-C-I 1-0-0 7-3-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 3-2 Penalties-Yds. 5-25 6-40 Punts-Avg. 2-28.5 2-42.5
iNdiVidUAl sTATisTics
RUSHING: Strong-Trevion Hicks 13-142, Antonio Green11-75, Devante Lovett 3-9, Marvalus Howard 1-28, Jacoby Heard 4-67. Dierks-Caleb Dunn 27-116, Tyler Kesterson 6-79, Andrew Sirmon 5-30, Dalton Ray 2-2.
PASSING: Strong- Heard 0-1-0-0. DierksAdam Bradshaw 3-7-0-6.
RECEIVING: Dierks- Narens 1-1, Dunn 1-2, Moore 1-3.