DHS to face toughest test yet
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 23, 2002
The 8-0 Demopolis High School Tiger Football team will face another challenge Friday to their perfect season when the likewise undefeated Dallas County High Hornets from Plantersville visit Memorial Stadium. The kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
The Dallas County game will be another important region game. The Hornets have a lot of speed with "a spread wishbone-type offense much like Air Force runs," said DHS Head Football Coach Doug Goodwin.
Dallas County quarterback Donovan Dixon runs the offense. "You’ve got to stop him on the option, and you’ve got to stop (fullback) James Jones," he said. "(Along with tailback Clifford Lyons) they’ve got three people who can go the distance if they get in the secondary.
It took a heroic effort October 18 for the Tigers to come away with a thrilling 40-38 win at Fayette County.
DHS got the ball back with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter. A 90-yard, 14-play drive ended with a 14-yard pass from Dusty Goodwin to Bart Pettus with nine seconds left brought home the victory.
The Tigers got behind 14 points at one time in the Fayette game, but Goodwin said the players were confident they could get the ball back.
Defense coaches Freddie Lawrence and Tony Pittman did a good job to make the right adjustments, he said. "We turned up the intensity a little bit in the second half. We told them if you want it, you’ve got to fight for it, and I thought they did.
In particular, Fadedric Sanders had a big sack of the Fayette quarterback, and the whole defense had a goal line stand on the two-yard line in the fourth quarter.
Goodwin said the Tigers will need Memorial Stadium filled Friday night to provide a true home field advantage against Dallas County. He mentioned the vocal crowd that followed the Tigers to Fayette County. "When we came back out at halftime and we were behind, the crowd stood up and cheered," he said "…That gave the kids a little boost starting the third quarter, knowing that the fans were still behind them."