Chargers advance to quarters, top Dyersburg 42-22

Martin-Westview broke open a tight game in the fourth quarter and advanced to the Class 3A state quarterfinals after toppling visiting Dyersburg 42-22 at UT-Martin Friday.

The Chargers, 12-0, will face a rematch with Covington, 11-1, in the 3A quarters at UTM. Westview defeated Covington in a track meet Nov. 1, 59-54. Covington defeated Bolivar 70-6 in that second-round game.

For Westview, the style of play was a bit of an oddity, but at this time of the season, teams do what they have to do to advance. Consequently, the Chargers had more ground yardage than passing yards for the first time this season. Westview freshman quarterback Graham Simpson was 15-20 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns, both to Donteze Joy.

Westview churned up 186 on the ground for 325 total yards. The defense stood up in the second half when it needed to as well.

The Chargers were engaged in a tight game with the visiting Trojans and appeared to have caught a break. Dyersburg fumbled on its first possession of the second half. Shortly thereafter, Simpson locked in on Joy for a 5-yard TD pass and a 22-8 lead early in the third. Dyersburg’s Peyton Hill countered with a 10-yard TD run to cut the lead to seven, 22-15.

Late in the third, Barnes darted 15 yards with 2:27 remaining in the third. Jayce Cook added the PAT and the Chargers led 29-15. Dyersburg would not go away quietly. Hill tacked on another TD run from the 10 and Elian Gonzales edged the Trojans closer, 29-22.

Westview countered with an 11-yard scoring romp from Barnes with 8:21 remaining in regulation. The Chargers led 35-22. The Charger defense came up big, stopping the Trojans on a fourth-down play at their own 27. Westview drove to the 3 where Meeks carried it the rest of the way for the score. The Chargers increased their margin to 42-22, That’s how it ended.

Barnes got things started for the Chargers with his 1-yard TD run at the 4:47 mark of the first. Meeks tacked on the deuce for an 8-0 lead. Dyersburg’s Logston Morgan scored with his 1-yard burst. The two-pointer tied the score at 8 early in the second frame. With 2:05 to play in the second, Simpson connected with Joy for a 5-yard scoring aerial and the Chargers led 15-8 at the break.

The Chargers emerged despite being whistled 12 times for 111 yards in penalties. Hill led the Trojans on the ground with nine carries for 95 yards. Morgan was 6-14 passing for 60 yards. Dyersburg amassed 296 total yards.

Dyersburg ends its season with a 7-4 mark.