Plantersville – Ball control was the name of the game for the Dallas County Hornets as they beat the visiting Greene County Tigers 25-16 in a regional match-up Friday night. “We don’t have the offensive linemen to spread it out to do a lot of passing,” said DC head coach Eric Hiott, “The key for the rest of the season for us is ball control. I also want to thank all the fans who stood behind us after losing our first four games and thank God for the opportunity to stay here at Dallas County.”

Sophomore Chris Jones was the workhorse for the Hornets ground game. He carried the ball 21 times for 81 tough yards. Though most of the game plan for the Hornets was to run, they scored three of their four touchdowns in the game through the air. Senior quarterback Derrick McGhee, who completed six passes out of nine attempts threw for three touchdown passes.

“We were determined to win tonight in a must win situation,” commented McGhee. Two of the touchdown passes, a 25-yarder and a 27-yarder, were caught by senior wide-receiver Eric Ross, who also gained 102 yards on 4 catches for the night. “It wasn’t just me, it was a team effort,” said Ross after the game, “the line blocked well, and Derrick was able to get the ball to me.”

The Hornets reached the end zone in the first quarter after a Greene County fumble and drove 42 yards. McGhee ran two yards for the score. The point after was good. Dallas County had the ball for over eight minutes in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead to end the quarter.

McGhee threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter. The first, a 25 yard pass to Ross who ran right pass the defender. The second was on a screen pass to senior Rafel Miller who’s speed carried him 23 yards for a score. The Hornets went into the locker room at halftime up 19 – 0.

The third quarter resembled the first quarter as DC held the ball for over eight minutes again. McGhee’s third touchdown pass of the game, a 27-yarder to Ross, was thrown in the quarter at the 1:16 mark giving Dallas County a 25 – 0 advantage. That proved to be all the scoring the Hornets needed.

Penalties stifled Greene County’s attempted comeback in the fourth quarter, but they were still able to cross the end zone twice. Once on the end of a 9 play 69 yard drive, with Mike Gibson going over from the one and a 2-point conversion; the other on their next drive from a 22-yard run on the speed of Quinton McElroy and another 2-point conversion. Final score: 25 – 16.

Dallas County (2 – 4), who has won two straight, will hit the gridiron against county and regional rival Southside next Friday. Greene will take on Livingston next week.