Indians sweat out win in Dixie

CROSS CITY - To win on the road is one thing. To win in Cross City is something else.

The Chiefland High football team time and again overcame adversity in a hostile environment in its season opener last Friday night at Bruce Boyette Field, and used a big second half to score a 28-21 victory over arch-rival Dixie County.

A heads-up play by Indian linebacker Zach Tyson turned out to be the difference, as he grabbed a loose lateral and ran 15 yards to the end zone for a touchdown with 5:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The quick toss from quarterback Kameron Keen to running back Rodney Scott had worked earlier in the game, but not this time.

"That's all they do is lateral to him (Scott), but I was right on top of him," said Tyson.

The TD left a stunned Bear crowd silent. Meanwhile, the big cheer went up on the other side once it all sank in.

The Chiefland defense made a couple of late defensive stands to seal the victory.

"Our kids never gave up - they kept fighting," said Chiefland coach Ajay Ulmer. "Going in, the kids believed they could win the game."

Pretty much held in check by the Bear defense in the first half, the Indian offense came to life in the third quarter, using a pair of long touchdown runs by Stephen Davis to turn a 14-7 deficit into a 21-14 advantage.

Davis, a 5-9 senior, sped 65 yards to pay dirt on the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Then after the Indian defense forced a punt, Davis went back to work, going 57 yards on an inside play turned outside.

It appeared there was no room inside, but Davis was able to bounce out to the right and race the distance.

"Somebody ran into me," recalled Davis, who finished with 139 yards on 11 carries. "I was lucky to stay on my feet. I bounced outside and took off."

"That second one, they grabbed his facemask," Ulmer said. "He broke away and made an outstanding play. He made two outstanding plays."

The 21-14 lead would be anything but safe, as Bear Stephen Godbolt scrambled all the way to the Indian 3 on the kickoff return.

Scott took it on from three, scoring his third TD of the night.

It stayed at 21 until Tyson's big defensive play.

Not that there wasn't any suspense down the stretch.

The Chiefland defense stoned Dixie on its next possession, spearheaded by a sack by Tommy Sheffield.

It appeared the Indians had the game iced on offense, as big runs by Sheffield and Dane Cothron gave them first downs. But deep in Bear territory with the clock ticking down, it was ruled that Davis had fumbled at the 10-yard line.

On the next play, Scott sliced and diced for what appeared to be a game-tying 90-yard TD run.

But it was ruled that he stepped out of bounds on a cutback on the Indian 37.

Given another chance, the Chiefland defense made good on its last stand. Cantrell Richardson stopped Godbolt for a two-yard loss and three incompletions later, the Indians had the ball and were able to kill the clock.

"It's been a long time," Sheffield said of Chiefland whistling Dixie. "It was 2002. I was in middle school or elementary. This is great."

It took the new shotgun offense a while to warm, as the Indians didn't get a first down until there was 5:10 remaining until halftime.

Chiefland had 65 rushing yards in the first half compared to 206 in the second.

Penalties set the Indians back in three of their first four possessions. The running game showed signs of coming to life on the fifth possession, but a fumble ruined that drive.

Meanwhile, the Chiefland defense was doing a good job of holding Dixie down.

The Bears cashed in after a short punt by Garrett Schmidt put them in business at the 40. Nine plays later, Blue Chip running back Rodney Scott weaved into the end zone from 14 yards out to give Dixie the lead.

It stayed that way until late in the first half, when a flurry of scoring lit up the board.

Chiefland tied it at 7-7 on a bomb from sophomore quarterback Brent Slaughter to wideout Clenton Wasson, who steaked down the left sideline and caught the ball in full ride. The hookup covered 68 yards. Schmidt's extra point evened the count with just 35 ticks before halftime.

Never a dull moment in old Cross City, Dixie went back ahead, taking just 21 seconds to score the go-ahead touchdown. Kameron Keen threw to Scott for a 30-yard gain to the 25. A pass interference call put the ball at the 12. Then it was back to Scott again, who scored on a pass from Keen. The conversion made it 14-7 with 14 seconds left.

It appeared the Indians had the game iced on offense, as big runs by Sheffield and Dane Cothron gave them first downs. But deep in Bear territory with the clock ticking down, it was ruled that Davis had fumbled at the 10-yard line.

On the next play, Scott sliced and diced for what appeared to be a game-tying 90-yard TD run.

But it was ruled that he stepped out of bounds on a cutback on the Indian 37.

Given another chance, the Chiefland defense made good on its last stand. Cantrell Richardson stopped Godbolt for a two-yard loss and three incompletions later, the Indians had the ball and were able to kill the clock.

"It's been a long time," Sheffield said of Chiefland whistling Dixie. "It was 2002. I was in middle school or elementary. This is great."

It took the new shotgun offense a while to warm, as the Indians didn't get a first down until there was 5:10 remaining until halftime.

Chiefland had 65 rushing yards in the first half compared to 206 in the second.

Penalties set the Indians back in three of their first four possessions. The running game showed signs of coming to life on the fifth possession, but a fumble ruined that drive.

Meanwhile, the Chiefland defense was doing a good job of holding Dixie down.

The Bears cashed in after a short punt by Garrett Schmidt put them in business at the 40. Nine plays later, Blue Chip running back Rodney Scott weaved into the end zone from 14 yards out to give Dixie the lead.

It stayed that way until late in the first half, when a flurry of scoring lit up the board.

Chiefland tied it at 7-7 on a bomb from sophomore quarterback Brent Slaughter to wideout Clenton Wasson, who streaked down the left sideline and caught the ball in full ride. The hookup covered 68 yards. Schmidt's extra point evened the count with just 35 ticks before halftime.

Never a dull moment in old Cross City, Dixie went back ahead, taking just 21 seconds to score the go-ahead touchdown. Kameron Keen threw to Scott for a 30-yard gain to the 25. A pass interference call put the ball at the 12. Then it was back to Scott again, who scored on a pass from Keen. The conversion made it 14-7 with 14 seconds left.