By Craig Brown
A good fan showing from both sides was present Friday night at Warrior Field as region rivals Dillon Christian School Warriors and Pee Dee Academy Golden Eagles met for their annual battle.
The Warriors were too strong for the Eagles this year coming away with a 35-0 region win.
The Warrior defense held the Eagle offense to 25 total yards in this game. The Eagles have been the Warriors top rival since the Warriors began participating in sports.
Over the years the Eagles have been dominate in basketball, baseball, softball and volley ball with the Warriors winning occasionally but football has belonged to the Warriors and if my memory is correct the Warriors first victory was against the Eagles.
Diaz Alexander got things going for the Warriors midway in the first quarter as he out-ran the Eagle defenders on his way for a 62 yard touchdown run. Gage Bazemore added the point after to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead with 5:44 left in the first quarter. Luke Price picked off an Eagle’s pass from his linebacker position and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. Bazemore’s point after kick upped the Warrior lead to 14-0 with 2:13 left in the first quarter with the quarter ending with this score. On the Warriors first possession of the second quarter Warrior quarterback Michael Minges found wide receiver Jackson Wolfe open for a 51-yard touchdown pass. Bazemore’s kick increased the Warrior lead to 21-0 with 9:54 left in the second quarter. This would end the scoring in the first half of play.
The Warrior defense held the Eagle’s offense on their opening possession of the third quarter forcing them to kick. Diaz Alexander retreated to the 25 yard line to field the punt and then broke tackles and outran defenders on his way to a 75 yard punt return. Bazemore’s kick split the uprights to put the Warriors up 28-0 with 10:00 left in the third quarter.
The quarter would end with this score. On the Warriors first possession of the fourth quarter Minges connected with Tyreke Toomer for a 55 yard touchdown pass. Bazemore added the final point of the game with 10:54 left in the fourth quarter to give the Warriors the 35-0 region win.
The win puts the Warriors at 6-0 on the season. Head Coach Christian Wolfe stated that he was glad to get the big win but added that there were some issues that still needed to be improved on. It is our goal to remain undefeated but we have to eliminate some nagging problems, stated Wolfe.
Wolfe added that this team has a lot of talent and he is proud of the team efforts and the dedicated work from the coaching staff.
On offense for the Warriors, Michael Minges was 11 of 13 passing for 184 yards and two touchdowns and had 48 yards rushing on nine carries, Diaz Alexander had 85 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown, caught two passes for 28 yards and returned a punt for 75 yards and a touchdown, Jackson Wolfe caught three passes for 60 yards with a touchdown, Tyreke Toomer caught two passes for 60 yards with a touchdown adding two yards rushing, Luke Price caught two passes for 35 yards, Garret Collins got 28 yards on three carries, Jared Ivey gat 16 yards on five carries, Gage Bazemore got 14 yards on a carry going 5 for 5 in extra point kicks and Bryan Davis completed one pass for two yards and added two yards rushing.
On defense Luke Price had ten tackles, four assists with an interception returned 27 yards for a touchdown, Walt Bailey had six tackles, three assists, Evan Paul had six tackles, Eric Eck had five tackles, six assists, Garret Collins had five tackles, four assists, Jared Ivey had five tackles, Hamilton Hodges had three tackles, four assists, Samuel Coleman had three tackles, Michael Minges, Tyreke Toomer, Jared Darmon, Corbin Wethington, Jacob Dubose and John Rourke had two tackles each with Toomer getting an interception and returning it 34 yards and Rourke getting a fumble recovery, Diaz Alexander, Barnes Causey, Bryan Davis, Mason Bailey and Daniel Camp adding a tackle each and Jackson Wolfe getting a tackle assist. The Warriors will have a bye week and return to play on October 7 traveling to Darlington County for a game with The Kings Academy with game time set for 7:30.
Here is a photo gallery from the Dillon Christian v. Pee Dee Academy game on September 23.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Craig Brown
Click once on a photo to bring it into a single screen, and then again to enlarge.
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- Michael Minges on a quarterback keepers behind the blocking of Diaz Alexander.
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- Diaz Alexander evades tackles.
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- Michael Minges throws a quick pass
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- Jackson Wolfe breaks a tackle
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- Carrol Collins leads the way for Michael Minges.
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- Walt Bailey punts
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- Jared Ivey tackles an Eagle runner.
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- A DCS player in action
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- Michael Minges looks for a receiver.
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- Luke Price gains 16 yards on a pass.
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- Michael Minges looks for a receiver.
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- Ereck Eck fights his way to the ball carrier.
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- Diaz Alexander runs past the Eagle defense for a good gain.
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- Dillon Christian School cheerleaders in action
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- Dillon Christian Schools Cheerleaders
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- Diaz Alexander on his way to a 75-yard punt return.
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- Ereck Eck and Luke Price fight off blocks to get to the ball carrier.
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- Jared Ivey drops an Eagle runner.
