Dixie Falls to Waynesville

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Dixie suffered their second defeat in a row against Waynesville.  As they did the prior week, Dixie raced out to an early lead, but the defending league champs ground them down.   Waynesville used both a spread offense and a two back offense to attack Dixie.  They successfully used both the pass and run to keep Dixie on the ropes.  Although Waynesville had the bigger, better team, Dixie did not help their cause as mistakes aided the Waynesville cause. 

Penalties were a factor - didn’t get the official stats, but Dixie easily had twice the penalty yardage as their opponents.  And several of these penalties came at the wrong time.  Holding penalties and offsides that put the Dixie offense into long yardage situations.  Then in the second half when Dixie was gunning – trying to get back into the game they got bit by the turnover bug, throwing two more interceptions.  When playing against a caliber of team like Waynesville you can’t afford any mistakes.

So overall Waynesville would still have won the game, but take away some of the untimely penalties and turnovers and then score would have been more respectable.  Dixie was able to move the ball in between the 20’s but a stingy Waynesville defense combined with the afore mentioned misque’s kept Dixie out of the endzone the rest of the night.  Logan Watts had a good game at receiver with several nice catches and Ryan Jordan had a decent night carrying the ball.  Dustin Bartrum on defense had an interception as did Luke Bowling.  Brody Queen had a couple of sacks.

Dixie’s score was late in the first quarter.  Waynesville had punted the ball to the Dixie 24.  Ryan Jordan had a nice carry of about 30 yards to midfield.  A few plays later and Greg Leonard caught a Luke Bowling pass for a 42 yard gain and touchdown.  But that lead was short lived as Waynesville turned around on their next drive and connected on a long pass of their own for a touchdown and connected on the extra point for a 7-6 lead.   Waynesville had the next 2 scores in the second quarter.   Dixie had a chance to score just before halftime when Luke Bowling intercepted a Waynesville pass deep in Dixie territory.  The Hounds quickly advanced to the Waynesville 19.  But at a critical time the quarterback Bowling had to come out for one play to get an open cut addressed.  A sack was taken, then another sack and suddenly it was 4^th and 23 and Dixie gave up the ball on downs.

Waynesville would score 3 more times in the second half,  one of these off of a blocked punt.  It would end up a 42 – 6 win for the Spartans.  Commented Coach Watson, “I thought we came out and played well in the first half.  And we had some tough situations in the second half.  They came to play and really wore us down. They were a bigger, stronger team and they outlasted us.  I am proud of the players, they fought to the end – they fought every down, every play and I couldn’t ask for anything more. “

He continued, ”We drove the ball down to the 20 yard line, the 30 yard line, but we just couldn’t score.  We hurt ourselves with penalties, or we dropped passes, or our pass blocking breaks down.  It’s those small detail things that you have to do to win ball games.  We have to focus on those details for next week and rebound against Northridge. “

On Northridge, “Coach Smith at Northridge has done a good job with what he has. He has done a good job of getting the numbers up there and turning that program around.  They are a tough opponent and they are going to spread the ball out.  But I like our matchups, it’s going to be a tough job, but I think we can come out on top.”