Dyer crashes Tigers' homecoming with 6 touchdowns
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — There wasn't much to celebrate Friday night during the McClain Tigers' homecoming game. Due in large part to five turnovers, the Tigers dropped their sixth consecutive game in a 48-0 loss to the Miami Trace Panthers Friday night at McClain Field.
Most of the celebrating came during the pregame with the homecoming festivities as 2011 homecoming queen Sasha Lawwell received her crown and presented the Tigers with the game ball. The homecoming court included: Sarah Looney (freshman attendant), Abby Storts (sophomore attendant), Tiffany Edenfield (junior attendant), Sammy Rooks (senior attendant), Emily Sterling (queen's attendant) and Tia Mitchell (queen's attendant).
Following the pregame ceremonies, it was the Panthers who crashed the party, as they earned their third consecutive win.
"It's always nice to come to Greenfield and get a win. It's always a tough place for us to come play," MT head coach Mike Bernard said. "Coach (Randy) Closson had his kids ready to play, but we caught a couple breaks early.
"Our offensive and defensive line were key to the victory. We handled them up front OK, and we mixed in enough passing that kept (McClain) off-balanced. Defensively, our kids played well."
The rushing attack from Miami Trace senior Clayton Dyer put a damper on the game for the Tigers, but gave the Miami Trace faithful plenty to cheer for with six touchdowns and 186 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Miami Trace dominated all aspects of the game. Offensively, they totaled 367 yards rushing, and defensively, they held the Tigers to 127 yards of offense. MT's defense also forced five turnovers, four fumbles and one interception. McClain (0-5, 1-7) finished with seven fumbles.
The Panthers are on a good run as of late with three straight wins after starting the season 1-4 after five weeks.
"Anytime you face Jonathan Alder and Clinton-Massie in back-to-back weeks, that's going to make you wake up and realize you have to step your play up," Bernard said. "We lost the second and third games of the season, both close games.
"So, for our kids to come back after two close losses and two blowouts, and now get on a three-game winning streak, is a testament to our kids' resiliency … they don't give up and fight through it. We are real proud of our kids tonight."
The Panthers (3-1, 4-4) scored three times in the first half for a 21-0 lead, including on the game's first drive. It took the visiting Panthers four plays and 49 yards to reach pay dirt when, on second-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Clayton Dyer rushed to the end zone with 10:04 left on the clock. A PAT by Nathan Bowers made it a 7-0 score. One play that helped set up the drive was a 36-yard run by quarterback Jimmy Stroker.
Miami Trace's second touchdown came on a bit of good fortune on the Panthers' part.
The Tigers' defense had Miami Trace down to a fourth down after the Tigers caught a MT pass, but it was ruled out of bounds. The McClain sideline didn't agree and were charged with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty flag, giving the Panthers a first down on the Tigers' 47-yard line.
This time MT wasn't stopped, taking advantage of the 15-yard flag on the Tigers. Dyer ran the ball eight yards, followed by a three-yard run. He came back with eight more yards, and following a 9-yard pass by Stroker to Devin Neal and a run of seven yards by Stroker, Dyer raced nine yards into the end zone with 6:01 left in the second quarter. The PAT made it a 14-0 score, changing the momentum of the game along the way.
MT scored one final time in the first half with a 6-yard run from Dyer, his third touchdown of the first half with 37.8 left in the quarter. The drive went 73 yards, including runs of 20 and 24 yards from Dyer.
Three touchdowns weren't enough for the MT running back, so he scored a fourth touchdown on the first play of the third quarter, but this time he did it from defense.
With the Tigers fumbling the ball on the first play of the quarter (due to pressure from Trace's Trevor Kirk), Dyer was there to scoop it up and run 20 yards for the score nine seconds into the quarter. The PAT made it a 28-point lead for the Panthers.
"Obviously leading 21-0 at halftime, but getting (a touchdown) on the first play of the second half was huge," Bernard said. "We scored late in the first half and scored on the first defensive play."
The 6-0, 175-pound senior still wasn't finished running to the end zone against MHS. On Trace's first offensive play of the third quarter, he ran for a 51-yard score with 9:39 left in the quarter for what turned into a 35-0 lead after the PAT.
Dyer's sixth and final touchdown came on a 46-yard run, on a third-and-8, with 2:05 left in the quarter. In the third quarter alone, Dyer ran for 97 yards.
Miami Trace added one final score with 5:12 left in the quarter when Trevor Haines scored on a 20-yard run.
For the Tigers, one positive was the rushing attack of Dillon East, as he tallied 97 yards on 18 carries. Gary Ryan rushed for 27 yards on eight carries.
The Tigers completed one pass with Jordan Goble gaining 12 yards on the reception.
MHS will travel to Greenville High School next Friday (Week 9) for their final non-league game of the season.
The Panthers will travel to Hillsboro (1-3, 1-7) next Friday night.
GAME NOTES: MHS totaled 115 yards of rushing … The Tigers had 10 first downs (five by penalty, four rushing, one passing) … MT totaled 295 yards rushing … MT had 14 first downs (10 rushing, three passing, one penalty) … The Tigers had five penalties for 45 yards … The Panthers had 11 penalties for 85 yards … The Tigers have been shut-out four times this season … Miami Trace had one turnover … MT's Connor Dement rushed for 32 yards, and Stroker ran for 52 yards … McClain's Bryce Duff stopped the ball on the MT 2-yard line on an MHS punt in the fourth quarter … McClain's Coty Barnhardt recovered a fumble.[[In-content Ad]]
Most of the celebrating came during the pregame with the homecoming festivities as 2011 homecoming queen Sasha Lawwell received her crown and presented the Tigers with the game ball. The homecoming court included: Sarah Looney (freshman attendant), Abby Storts (sophomore attendant), Tiffany Edenfield (junior attendant), Sammy Rooks (senior attendant), Emily Sterling (queen's attendant) and Tia Mitchell (queen's attendant).
Following the pregame ceremonies, it was the Panthers who crashed the party, as they earned their third consecutive win.
"It's always nice to come to Greenfield and get a win. It's always a tough place for us to come play," MT head coach Mike Bernard said. "Coach (Randy) Closson had his kids ready to play, but we caught a couple breaks early.
"Our offensive and defensive line were key to the victory. We handled them up front OK, and we mixed in enough passing that kept (McClain) off-balanced. Defensively, our kids played well."
The rushing attack from Miami Trace senior Clayton Dyer put a damper on the game for the Tigers, but gave the Miami Trace faithful plenty to cheer for with six touchdowns and 186 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Miami Trace dominated all aspects of the game. Offensively, they totaled 367 yards rushing, and defensively, they held the Tigers to 127 yards of offense. MT's defense also forced five turnovers, four fumbles and one interception. McClain (0-5, 1-7) finished with seven fumbles.
The Panthers are on a good run as of late with three straight wins after starting the season 1-4 after five weeks.
"Anytime you face Jonathan Alder and Clinton-Massie in back-to-back weeks, that's going to make you wake up and realize you have to step your play up," Bernard said. "We lost the second and third games of the season, both close games.
"So, for our kids to come back after two close losses and two blowouts, and now get on a three-game winning streak, is a testament to our kids' resiliency … they don't give up and fight through it. We are real proud of our kids tonight."
The Panthers (3-1, 4-4) scored three times in the first half for a 21-0 lead, including on the game's first drive. It took the visiting Panthers four plays and 49 yards to reach pay dirt when, on second-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Clayton Dyer rushed to the end zone with 10:04 left on the clock. A PAT by Nathan Bowers made it a 7-0 score. One play that helped set up the drive was a 36-yard run by quarterback Jimmy Stroker.
Miami Trace's second touchdown came on a bit of good fortune on the Panthers' part.
The Tigers' defense had Miami Trace down to a fourth down after the Tigers caught a MT pass, but it was ruled out of bounds. The McClain sideline didn't agree and were charged with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty flag, giving the Panthers a first down on the Tigers' 47-yard line.
This time MT wasn't stopped, taking advantage of the 15-yard flag on the Tigers. Dyer ran the ball eight yards, followed by a three-yard run. He came back with eight more yards, and following a 9-yard pass by Stroker to Devin Neal and a run of seven yards by Stroker, Dyer raced nine yards into the end zone with 6:01 left in the second quarter. The PAT made it a 14-0 score, changing the momentum of the game along the way.
MT scored one final time in the first half with a 6-yard run from Dyer, his third touchdown of the first half with 37.8 left in the quarter. The drive went 73 yards, including runs of 20 and 24 yards from Dyer.
Three touchdowns weren't enough for the MT running back, so he scored a fourth touchdown on the first play of the third quarter, but this time he did it from defense.
With the Tigers fumbling the ball on the first play of the quarter (due to pressure from Trace's Trevor Kirk), Dyer was there to scoop it up and run 20 yards for the score nine seconds into the quarter. The PAT made it a 28-point lead for the Panthers.
"Obviously leading 21-0 at halftime, but getting (a touchdown) on the first play of the second half was huge," Bernard said. "We scored late in the first half and scored on the first defensive play."
The 6-0, 175-pound senior still wasn't finished running to the end zone against MHS. On Trace's first offensive play of the third quarter, he ran for a 51-yard score with 9:39 left in the quarter for what turned into a 35-0 lead after the PAT.
Dyer's sixth and final touchdown came on a 46-yard run, on a third-and-8, with 2:05 left in the quarter. In the third quarter alone, Dyer ran for 97 yards.
Miami Trace added one final score with 5:12 left in the quarter when Trevor Haines scored on a 20-yard run.
For the Tigers, one positive was the rushing attack of Dillon East, as he tallied 97 yards on 18 carries. Gary Ryan rushed for 27 yards on eight carries.
The Tigers completed one pass with Jordan Goble gaining 12 yards on the reception.
MHS will travel to Greenville High School next Friday (Week 9) for their final non-league game of the season.
The Panthers will travel to Hillsboro (1-3, 1-7) next Friday night.
GAME NOTES: MHS totaled 115 yards of rushing … The Tigers had 10 first downs (five by penalty, four rushing, one passing) … MT totaled 295 yards rushing … MT had 14 first downs (10 rushing, three passing, one penalty) … The Tigers had five penalties for 45 yards … The Panthers had 11 penalties for 85 yards … The Tigers have been shut-out four times this season … Miami Trace had one turnover … MT's Connor Dement rushed for 32 yards, and Stroker ran for 52 yards … McClain's Bryce Duff stopped the ball on the MT 2-yard line on an MHS punt in the fourth quarter … McClain's Coty Barnhardt recovered a fumble.[[In-content Ad]]