By MICHAEL JULIAN
pressbox1.com

DYERSBURG - Dyersburg High School and Gibson County collided in Friday night's Dyersburg Football Jamboree, but arrived at J.C. Sawyers Stadium with very different emotions.

The Trojans had hopes off starting the 2007 football season on a high note and under new management. With the departure of veteran coach James Counce, Dyersburg unveiled the Darren Bowling era.

Unfortunately for their opponents, the visiting Gibson County Pioneers entered Friday night's pre-season fest with heavy hearts, having lost teammate Will Orr after he collapsed and died after the third day of practice in full pads.

Despite the tragedy, the two teams showed up for battle and Dyersburg emerged with a 35-0 two-quarter victory.

It was a stellar night for the Trojan offense and defense and the Pioneers seemed to sputter on the offensive end for much of the contest. Meanwhile, Dyersburg showed some versatility in its offense. Four different Trojans scored in the pairing, which pleased DHS coach Darren Bowling.

"The team offense is not centered on one man," said the coach. "In this offense you don’t know who is going to get the ball."

Dyersburg electrified the crowd on just the second play from scrimmage when quarterback Rashad Taylor sprinted for a long touchdown run with just 35 seconds elapsed from the clock. The point after was good and the Trojans led 7-0.

The Pioneers struggled on its first series, thanks to a stingy Dyersburg defense. After three plays, the Trojans had the ball back and quickly tacked on another touchdown. This time, Tyler Caldwell wore the saddle and helped set the table for Eric Cunningham's touchdown burst with 4:58 remaining in the first.

After another stiff defensive stand, Gibson County had to give the ball back to the Trojans and they made it pay. The Pioneers ratcheted up their defense and forced a crucial third-down situation, but the Trojans converted when Caldwell raced to the end zone on an option play with 1:33 to play in the first. DHS led 21-0.

Gibson County seemed to have found its range on offense when Dyersburg defender Josh Rhodes halted a drive with his diving interception. The Trojan offense returned to the field and added another score, this time from Cunningham's 5-yard plunge. Dyersburg boosted its lead to 28-0.

Gibson County's Antone Cunningham reeled off the best gain of the night for his team then took advantage of a personal-foul call on Dyersburg. The assault took the Pioneers near the red zone, but the drive sputtered just inside the 30.

Dyersburg used two more runners to carry the load for the final score of the matchup. Justin Whitfield and Logan Parker moved the ball upfield until Parker sprinted around the left end for another long touchdown. DHS salted this one away 35-0.

"The entire offense, defense and special teams were revamped," said Bowling. "This is a transition period, but the atmosphere of leadership is still there."

Bowling's transition remark alluded to the recent departure of popular and successful former Trojan coach James Counce.

As the second period of the scrimmage drew to a close, both teams continued to play hard-nosed football. Gibson County’s offense marched onto the field one more time to try and crack the stifling defense of the Trojans, but to no avail. The Trojans held once more to force another three and out.

The smoothly efficient offense of the Trojans took over after the punt and set their sights on yet another touchdown. This last effort fell short inside the 10-yard line as time expired.

Bowling conceded that there was still work to do and his linemen needed to maintain their blocks longer. He also suggested that teams will bring their A-game when they face the Trojans.

"When the bulls eye is put on your back you can let the pressure get to you or you can build on it," Bowling said.

The Trojans will have this week off, then prepare for a visit from Frayser on Aug. 31. Halls visits Gibson County in a Week 0 game Aug. 24.