HALLSVILLE — Daingerfield scored just about every way imaginable, steamrolling to a 68-14 rout of New Diana in Class 2A bi-district action here Friday.
The third ranked Tigers (10-1) turned in a pair of pick sixes and added a special teams tally as they coasted to an easy victory. It wasn't a win without concern for the defending state champs. Super-talented linebacker Josh Evans went out after a head-on collision with Kyle Hendricks at 4:18 of the first period.
Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo |
Daingerfield's KoKo Smith is wrapped up by the New Diana defense during Friday's bi-district playoff game at Bobcat Stadium in Hallsville.
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Evans was motionless for a few moments, but was able to walk off the field on his own. He didn't return to action. It turns out his services could be put on the shelf until next week's area competition.
The Tiger defense had already turned a Travis Barton pass into a 56-yard touchdown from Steve Edmond on the opening drive of the night. Edmond stepped in front of a Barton pass intended for Terry Newsome and glided to the end zone with three minutes elapsed in the contest.
KoKo Smith pulled off an impressive spin as he bolted 22 yards to the flag on Daingerfield's initial offensive possession. Quarterback Tyler Boyd broke containment on 3rd-and-15 as he zipped and zagged 44 yards to keep the drive alive.
BJ Johnson tacked on the point after to make it 14-0 with 4:43 left to go in the first quarter.
Newsome's 71-yard kickoff return ignited the Eagles for a moment. Three plays and 17 yards later, Hendricks lumbered in from 12 yards out at 3:09. The point after by Antonio Barron cut the Tiger lead in half at 14-7.
Daingerfield would tack on two more scores before the first 12 minutes were gone. Boyd pegged Floyd Chism on a slant route that eventually wound up as an 80-yard scoring pitch. Floyd did a shoulder shrug and caught the ball in stride and went untouched to pay dirt.
The Tigers registered their second defensive score of the night when Scott Irvin picked up a Barton fumbled and sprinted 61 yards to the end zone with 18 seconds still to play in the first quarter.
Boyd, who completed two of his three throws for 148 yards and two scores, found speedy Chris Jones on the receiving end of a 68-yard TD three minutes into period two. Boyd raced in for a score at 6:06 of the first half as the lead swelled to 42-7.
Things got even crazier when Adrian Valles dropped back to punt for New Diana and had the ball sail over his head. He retrieved the errant snap and tossed the ball in the air. Edmond, who already had a defensive score, caught the ball in midair and galloped 25 yards to the flag.
Smith, who led all rushers with 119 yards on eight carries tallied from 42 yards out at 10:29 of the third. Joe Lafayette picked off Barton on the ensuing drive and coasted 35 yards for yet another score at 7:18 of the third.
Diana's Hendricks managed his second score of the game at the completion of a 13-play, 80-yard drive that used 7:14 of the play clock. The Tigers got one last score when LaMarce Lafayette punched it in from the three at 7:22 of regulation.
Daingerfield (10-1) will take on Garrison next week in the area playoffs. New Diana ends its season with a 7-3 record.
