By GALE CAVNESS
pressbox1.com

DYERSBURG - A lopsided win in their first game of the year, a disruption in the regular routine because of the Labor Day holiday and the hoopla surrounding the week-long county fair could easily distract a football team facing a big challenge.

According to James Counce, head coach at Dyersburg, that shoul dn’t happen to the Trojans

Following Thursday’s practice, Counce said his team is focused and ready for tonight’s Region 7-3A showdown on the road at Haywood County.

“You just deal with what you have to deal with,” Counce stated simply.

Kick off for tonight's clash in Brownsville is 7:30 p.m.

After romping to a 65-14 victory last week over visiting Memphis Frayser, the Trojans faced an abbreviated school week as they turned their attention to the talented Tomcats. Monday was both Labor Day and the traditional opening ceremonies for the Dyer County Fair. With the school system’s calendar including a day off for Fair Day on Friday, the week featured just three regular class days.

Keeping the team’s sights set was easy, Counce said.

“It’s a region game and it’s Brownsville,” he said. “We’ve got to be ready to play football.”

The coach said his team has had a good week of practice and is healthy heading into the region rumble.

Dyersburg (1-0) took advantage of Frayser’s poor execution last week to build a quick lead. The Trojans scored 30 points in the first quarter, led 51-6 at the half and coasted to a laugher on its home turf. The Tomcats (1-1) will be playing their third game of the year after splitting their first two outings.

Haywood County booked a 17-14 win at Jackson Central-Merry in Week 0, but dropped a 30-21 decision to Memphis Kirby in its home opener last week.

Dyersburg junior Xavier Taylor scored four rushing touchdowns to pace the Trojan attack against the Rams. Jason Click, a senior, added three more scores via the ground. Taylor finished the night with 115 rushing yards on 11 carries.

Defensively, the Trojans got a big rush from the line and a boost from the secondary with three interceptions.

Up front, Dyersburg kept pressure on the Rams offensive effort and swarmed the punter on special teams to force Frayser into minus yards on the ground (-37) for the game while holding the guests to just five first downs. The secondary also set up points and scored, too. Zane Mathis, a junior, snagged off two errant passes and put the Trojans in scoring position with good returns. Sophomore Travis O’Neal picked off a third Rams pass and returned it for the team’s final touchdown.

Senior kicker Kyle Youmans did his part, as well. Youmans was a perfect 9-for-9 on conversion kicks and kept Frayser backed up with deep kick offs, including three into the end zone.