Trezevant defense turns back Dyersburg
Bears lean on Jones’ 207 yards
MUS (10-2) vs. Ensworth (10-1)
Quarterback Dean Brown slipped and slid to a 53-yard fourth-quarter touchdown run in the mud Friday night that lifted St. George’s Independent School to a 35-28 victory over Donelson Christian Academy and a berth in the Division 2-A championship game.
Defensive back William Brown also had a key fumble return for a touchdown and a late interception to help seal the win for the Gryphons.
“The touchdown play was a read option, and it was open so I kept it,” Dean Brown said. “As muddy as it was, footing was definitely an issue. I just had to keep running through it the best I could.”
Star turns: Dean Brown made the biggest plays for the St. George’s offense with his legs.
Besides the 53-yard, go-ahead touchdown run, he also set up a short touchdown run in the second quarter with back-to-back runs of 11 and 16 yards.
The St. George’s defense also played a starring role, with William Brown’s fumble return for a score and a crucial stop of Donelson Christian on its final possession.
The Wildcats started at their 27-yard line with 2:59 to play and drove to the St. George’s 40 before William Brown picked off a pass to end the drive – and the game.
Turning point: St. George’s was leading 27-21 midway through the St. George’s quarterback Dean Brown finds a hole. His 53-yard touchdown run late put the Gryphons in the state title game. fourth quarter when a strange play call – a double-reverse pass – resulted in an interception by the Wildcats’ James Douglas. Donelson Christian scored to go ahead 28-27 on the following possession, and St. George’s season seemed to be in jeopardy.
But on the Gryphons’ next possession, Dean Brown drove them to their 47-yard line and took them the rest of the way on the 53-yard touchdown run. He added the 2-point conversion as well, extending the Gryphons’ lead to 35-28.
Reddick was sacked on the first play of the next possession by St. George’s defensive lineman Darius Brooks, and the Wildcats were forced into desperation mode. The last-ditch drive finally ended with the interception by William Brown deep in Gryphons territory.
Talking points: Dean Brown on his team’s defensive effort: “The defense was just incredible all night. Once we got the lead at the end, I knew they would make it stick.”
What’s next: Donelson Christian Academy finishes 10-3. St. George’s (9-3) moves on to play in the Division 2-A state championship game Dec. 5 in Cookeville, Tenn. The Gryphons will face Webb (10-2), which defeated Evangelical Christian School, 28-15, in the other semifinal Friday night.
TREZEVANT 12, DYERSBURG 7
Trezevant kept its cool, kept its defensive assignments — and kept the ball in Jamal Jones’ hands Friday night. As a result, the Bears keep on going to the Class 4A semifinals after grinding out a 12-7 win over Dyersburg at the Fairgrounds.
Both the Bears (12-1) and Dyersburg (11-2) came in with 10-game winning streaks. But Trezevant rallied behind 167 of Jones’ 207 yards in the second half and came up with a second fourth-down stop on its 19 late in the fourth quarter.
“That shows how much this team has grown up,” said Trezevant coach Teli White. “A year ago at Covington, we fell behind and couldn’t answer. I told ’em we were playing like babies that day. Not today.”
Dyersburg coach Bart Stowe, after being put out of the playoffs by the Bears for the second straight year said, “Battle of two heavyweights. It came down to inches … but their defense never really let us get going.”
Star turn: After Trezevant struggled to run for 90 yards in the first half, Jones was all business in the second, hitting holes quickly, working off nice outside seals by his line, and by simply running north to south. His 41-yard sweep down the left side set up a 1-yard QB sneak for a TD by Jordan Spencer. Then with 5:09 left in the third, he went 30 yards the same way and scored the go-ahead touchdown (Trezevant failed on a pair of 2-point passes).
“We had to refocus and do what we do,” the junior running back said.
Two quick miscues — a bad punt snap and a blown coverage assignment — led to a 20-yard TD pass from Will Bradshaw to Johnathan Thomas for a 7-0 Dyersburg lead just before the half.
“I didn’t yell at all at half,” White said. “Just told ’em we had to go play like Trezevant plays football.”
Turning point: Dyersburg, behind hard running by senior Montavious Lagrone (80 yards) mounted a late drive that came down to fourthand-two on the Bears’ 19 at the five-minute mark of the final period. The Trojans played their ace as Lagrone tried the left side, but Philadarius Butler held him up inches short of the first down.
“I thought I had it,” Lagrone said.
“All I thought was ‘thank God,’ ” a smiling Butler said.
Extra points: The Bears sacked Bradshaw three times. Vonterio Johnson intercepted his first pass, and in the second half sophomore cornerback Justin Swift made a half-dozen key stops. … Spencer was unable to complete a pass all game in the stiff, chill wind, and Bradshaw was only 3 of 10 for 40 yards.
What’s next: The Bears will travel to Pulaski next week to play Giles County (11-2) for a Blue Cross bowl berth. The Bobcats won 34-10 win over White House.