By GALE CAVNESS
pressbox1.com

NEWBERN – A little problem here, a tiny error there and Dyer County was suddenly in big trouble Friday night against visiting McNairy County Central.

The Choctaws staged an impressive second-half rally, but early miscues, costly fundamental mistakes and turnovers proved fatal in a 28-21 loss to the Bobcats that spoiled 2008 homecoming activities at DCHS. McNairy County raced to a big lead at home last year and handed Dyer County its only regular-season setback. It appeared to be on the way to another romp after building an early advantage at Newbern.

Down 14-0 early and 21-7 at the break, the Choctaws pulled even in the fourth quarter before the Bobcats regained the edge and denied Dyer County’s final efforts to put together another comeback.

Choctaws head coach Adam Renshaw was disappointed that his team9 9s mistakes were so crucial to its success, but positive the club was headed in the right direction.

"We're really close to being a good football team," Renshaw said. "Some fundamental mistakes in some areas cost us a football game."

The Choctaws (1-2) will try to get back on track this week with a trip to Covington for their first Region 7-3A contest of the campaign. The Bobcats (2-1) play host to Jackson South Side.

While part of Friday night’s large crowd was still celebrating the crowning of senior Beth Fisher and acknowledging the nine maids that made up her court, McNairy County was denting the scoreboard.

A breakdown in the Choctaws’ secondary gave Bobcats quarterback Jonathon Jones an open target in receiver Ray Reed and the duo bit the home team with a 59-yard pass-and-run play seconds into the contest.

A turnover by the home team three plays later gave McNairy County a chance to score again, but a=2 0fumble inside the DC 5 was recovered by the Choctaws’ Seth Appleton.

When Dyer County was forced to punt, Jones and Reed made the connection again from 29 yards to make it a two-touchdown game less than six minutes into the affair.

Shell-shocked, the Choctaws began to make strides and gain some confidence when a fake punt turned into their biggest play of the early going.

Senior play maker Edward Powell hauled in a pass from Kody King that caught the visitors looking and put the home orange in scoring position. After moving from midfield to the McNairy 26, the Choctaw offense stalled and lost the ball on downs.

Needing a boost, Renshaw and the Dyer County faithful got it from its defensive line and linebackers. Led by the “M & M” boys, Kade Messersmith and Jeff Miller, and others, the Choctaws forced the Bobcats to punt out of its own end zone.

In good field position, freshman quarterback Dylan Dy e began to look more comfortable in his first start with the varsity unit. Stepping in for the injured Peyton Lucas, Dye hit Powell with a nice screen pass and later found Miller with a 13-yard strike that moved the Choctaws to the McNairy 5.

A sack cost the club 15 yards and forced it into a field goal situation. The attempt sailed wide left, leaving Dyer County down 14-0.

After swapping punts, a McNairy County turnover helped the Choctaws get back into the game.

Starting at is own 40 with 4:32 remaining in the half, Dyer County again struggled to move the football. Choosing to go back to a play that had already worked once, the Choctaws went with another fake punt.

King made nice pass to Mark Watson for a big gainer the alert sophomore turned into points. Following his blockers, Watson raced and rambled 60 yards to the end zone.

Gabriel Millan converted the conversion kick and the McNairy County lead was cut in20half at 14-7.

Challenged to regain momentum, the Bobcats went to talented freshman Justin Sutton for a ground attack that kept the DC defense busy in the early going.

McNairy County responded with a two-minute scoring march capped by Sutton’s 12-yard jaunt. Justin Parrish booted his third point-after kick and the Bobcats were up 21-7 at the break.

With the ball and a new challenge, Dye and the DC offense wasted little time starting their rally.

Just 47 ticks into the third quarter, Powell turned a slant route and a Dye pass completion into a 59-yard catch-and-run effort that made it a one-score game.

The Choctaws wasted an opportunity with the football at midfield following an interception by Messersmith, but didn’t waste a chance to knot the score in the early minutes of the final stanza.

Following big sticks by Messersmith and Miller on defense that forced McNairy County to punt the ball away, Dyer County turned into their best offensive drive of the game.

With Miller and backfield mate Toby Cashion getting a big push from the offensive line, the Choctaws marched more than 50 yards to knot the score at 21-all. Miller picked up the touchdown with 9:31 to play on a 19-yard carry. Millan tied it with the PAT.

The Bobcats, in a tie game for first time since the opening seconds, answered quickly.

In less than three minutes, Jones led the guests to the winning points. A big pass play, followed up by some broken-field running by Sutton, had McNairy inside the Dyer County 25.

Jones scored what was to be the game-winner on a sneak from the two-yard line with 6:54 remaining.

The Choctaws responded with a quick drive, moving from their own 38 into Bobcat territory. Powell caught another Dye pass for good yardage and Cashion gained 15 yards on a rushing effort that had DC knocking on the door.

From the McNairy County 30, however, the drive stalled. A third-and-eight pass fell incomplete and a fourth-down effort was picked off by the Bobcats at the visitors’ 15.

Jones and Sutton ran the clock, moved the chains and denied Dyer County another possession to secure the win.

Renshaw made no excuses for the setback and said the team had to put the loss behind and turn its sights to the first region skirmish of the campaign. C

ovington, Dyer County’s next opponent, has had troubles of its own.

In road losses at Memphis Ridgeway (26-15), Crockett County (28-0) and Brighton (37-7), the Chargers have been outscored 91-22.