By GALE CAVNESS
pressbox1.com

NEWBERN – Dyer County took a big step forward with a lopsided win over Memphis Frayser in its state playoff opener, but a roster hit leaves a big hole that will be difficult to fill heading into the second round.

Senior captain B.A. Davis sustained a season-ending injury in the Choctaws’ 42-6 romp past the visiting Rams. With play in the third quarter, the versatile Davis injured his right leg and had to leave the game. According to DC mentor Adam Renshaw, a broken fibula just above the right ankle will end the senior stalwart’s prep career.

“It’s just part of the game,” Renshaw said about the injury. “It was a good hit, nothing dirty or illegal. It was just a tough play.”

According to the coach, Davis sustained “a clean break,” an injury that should heal normally without surgery.

Davis, part of a legendary football family in Dyer County, handled a lot of chores for the Choctaws. He was a bruising runner and blocker on offense, a headhunter on defense and the team’s punter. His halfback pass set up a touchdown in DC’s 24-21 triumph at Dyersburg on Oct. 26, a win that handed the Trojans their only loss of the year and gave the “Big Orange” the 2007 Region 7-3A championship.

Davis is the son of Steve Davis, the quarterback of Dyer County’s 1973 Class A state championship team. His grandfather, Ab Davis, was head coach of the Choctaws for the title run the club capped with a 31-26 triumph over home standing Sequatchie County.

In last week’s win over the Rams, the youngster rolled up 41 rushing yards on just five carries.

“B.A. will certainly be missed on the field,” Renshaw added. “We’ll just have to pull together and go on without him.”

The first obstacle DC will face without Davis is a traditionally tough Haywood County team with its sights set on playoff success and revenge. The Choctaws dished out a 14-9 setback at Brownsville in Week 6 of the regular season.

The Tomcats lost twice in the regular season, both to local clubs. In Week 2, Haywood County dropped a 21-14 decision in double overtime at Dyersburg.

The Choctaws didn’t put together much offense when they tangled with their Region 7-3A foe in Brownsville, but they scored enough to get the win with the defense keeping the Tomcats caged.

Dyer County got all the points it needed with two field goals from Gabriel Millan, a touchdown run from Eric McLin and a safety.

Against Frayser, the Choctaws built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, pushed the advantage to 28-6 at the break and rolled to their 10th victory in 11 games.

Adam Clark tossed three touchdown passes in the win, one to Jared Hunter and two to Erick Bernard. Hunter and Cory Windle added rushing scores and McLin closed out the scoring by romping 90 yards with a Frayser fumble for a touchdown.

Haywood County (9-2) held off a tough Memphis Sheffield 13-6 to move into the second round.

Friday night’s contest at Choctaw Stadium begins at 7 p.m.