By GALE CAVNESS
pressbox1.com

BRIGHTON - In a game filled with plenty of horses, the Dyersburg Middle School defense simply couldn’t close the gate.

Expected to be a showcase for fleet-footed athletes on both offensive units, the host Cardinals handed the previously unbeaten Trojans a 42-30 setback Tuesday night to claim the West Tennessee Athletic Conference large school championship.

Brighton scored the game’s final 14 points to erase a small DMS lead. The Trojans moved ahead 30-28 just six seconds into the fourth quarter on a five-yard run by Travis Bradshaw and his two-point conversion run.

The Cardinals responded with a three-play, 57-yard drive that took just 59 seconds off the game clock and put the home team in command. Greg Starks put Brighton back on top 34-30 with a 12-yard scoring scamper.

When the Trojans lost the ball on downs at its own 44 on the ensuing possession, the Cardinals ate up almost four minutes to reach the end zone again and secure the victory.

Dyersburg ends the year with a 7-1 slate.

The win gives Brighton a berth in the west-state finals opposite the Memphis champion. The undefeated Cardinals, now 9-0, will host that contest on Sat., Oct. 27, at 2 p.m.