By Lonnie Turner

Dillon head football coach Jackie Hayes has led his Wildcats to the third state title in as many years and his fifth since the 2008 season, but he takes no credit.

“Our kids knew they could do it, but to be honest with you, I didn’t think we could this year. They are a special group and I am so proud of their tremendous effort.”

After spotting Newberry seven points on the opening kickoff return, the Wildcats stormed back with three unanswered scores to dominate the Bulldogs, 49-27. The Cats took a 21-7 score into the intermission on touchdowns by junior running back Johnny Allen.

Randal Davis electrified the near overflow crowd at the River Bluff High School Stadium in Lexington when he scooped up a fumble by the Bulldogs’ 237-pound fullback Chris Wadsworth at the Dillon one and took it 99 yards to go up 28-7 in the early seconds of the third quarter. A jarring tackle by linebacker Zach Wilson, who stands 5’9 and weighs in at 179 pounds, knocked the ball loose from Wadsworth.

Newberry would come back on their first possession with a 73-yard pass on the fourth play of their 87-yard opening drive. Two Dillon defenders tried to knock the ball away from the intended receiver and went to the ground, but Josh Davis, running with the receiver, caught the overthrown ball in stride to pull to within two touchdowns of the Wildcats.

For the rest of the quarter, the two teams traded touchdowns with McCall passing 11 yards to junior wide receiver Daniel Hamilton to take a 35-14 lead. It was Hamilton’s second catch of the season and his first touchdown pass. A pass interference penalty had given the Wildcats a first down at the eleven prior to the score.

“Newberry is a great football team and hats off to them for not giving up. It could have been easy for them to quit, but they didn’t,” said Hayes.

In fact, quarterback Yarfi Werts and Wadsworth led the Bulldogs to another score in the third to pull to within 14 points again with Werts running in from six yards out to cap a 67-yard drive two minutes following Hamilton’s touchdown.

Johnny Allen, who carried the ball only 11 times for 90 yards, scored his third touchdown of the game five minutes into the fourth quarter from 2-yards out. Eri’Reon Hayes began the 45-yard scoring drive with one of his rare running plays for 12 yards. McCall followed with a run of 13 yards and Allen did the rest, running the final 20 yards in three plays.

Not to be denied, the Dogs came roaring back with Omar Sims, the leading rusher for the season, scoring from four yards out to pick up the spirits for the Newberry fans, but it didn’t last long. Jamison Chapman put the finishing touches on the championship win with a 26-yard run. Drew Covington kicked his seventh straight extra point in the game to end the scoring.

McCall finished the game with 230 yards passing and 58 yards on the ground to lead the offense and Allen finished with 90 yards. Jamison Chapman carried six times for 51 yards and Eri’Reon Hayes carried twice for 44 yards.

Eri’Reon Hayes caught five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown; C.J. Sowells caught three for 38 yards; Randal Davis made two receptions for 37; and Daeshawn Davis caught two for 15 yards. Daniel Hamilton caught one pass for 11 yards, and Qydarius Bethea and Jamison Chapman each caught one pass for 10 yards.

Defensively, Daeshawn Davis and Zareon Hayes had 14 and 13 tackles respectively. Jermaine McDaniel led the team with two of four quarterback sacks. Davis and Omar McCollum had the other two.

Randal Davis made five tackles, three assists; Daijuwan Smith and Jermaine McDaniel each made four tackles, one assist; Omar McCollum and Trey Melton each made three tackles, two assists; Marquan Fulmore made four solo tackles; Malcolm Buie made three tackles, one assist; Qydarius Bethea and Khw’Dief Manning each made one tackle, one assist; Chrishan Jordan, Quamel Laurenceau, and Zack Wilson each made a solo tackle; and J.T. Melton, DeKendric Graves, and Gerome McLeod each made one assist.

For Newberry, Yarfi Werts carried 16 times for 87 yards rushing and completed eight of 15 passing attempts for 154 yards. Omar Sims carried 15 times for 86 yards, and Chris Wadsworth made 11 runs for 47 yards rushing. Josh Davis made three receptions for 87 yards, and Deuntrey Gallman made two for 57.

The Bulldog defense was led by Tymerious Sanders with six solo tackles and two assists, and Xizabian Sims Boyd with six solo tackles. Kalil Sheppard made three tackles with one assist and a quarterback sack, and Ja Ceree Caldwell added four tackles and two assists.

The Bulldogs finished the season with an 11-3 record while the Wildcats finish with an undefeated 14-0 record.

Photos by Craig Brown. Click the images below to view at full size!