Dorman Takes Down Rebels

The Dorman Cavaliers toppled the Byrnes Rebels at Nixon Field Friday night by a final score of 33-21. This game was a heavyweight fight with a crowd to match, but it was a heavyweight fight that was constantly interrupted by the official trying to separate the two boxers every two minutes.

The Rebels received the opening kickoff and shortly thereafter punted the ball back to the Cavaliers. Starting from their own 31 yard line, standout running back Nick Means took the handoff 69 yards down the field for the score, sending the visiting Dorman fans into a frenzy. Now up 7-0, the Dorman defense would force Rebels QB Caine Rogers into an interception on the first play of the drive, as Defensive Back Ja’Bez Thomas brought the ball back to the Byrnes 41 yard line.

Now with a short field, the Cavaliers would strike through the air as QB Meek Slydell found TE Kamden Miller streaking down the middle of the seam for 29 yards. It was here when the night’s theme of flags would stall out the Cavaliers drive, forcing them into a FG to go up 10-0.

Now staring down a 2 score deficit, Byrnes needed something to spark some momentum and they would get it in the way of an 84 yard kick return by Jacobi Fuller. Working from the other side of the 50 for the first time, the Rebels were able to do what they do best and feed star running back Tre Segarra the ball. Using him in both the passing and rushing attack, the Rebels made it down to the 6 yard line where they did what every single person in the stadium thought they would do and handed it right up the middle to Segarra for the score.

Following the score, the Rebel defense would force Dorman into a 3 and out and get the ball back with about 4 minutes left in the first. The offense would get a big helping hand on 3rd and long as the Cavaliers were called for roughing the passer, setting the Rebels up with a fresh set of downs. The Rebels would take this call and capitalize as the drive spilled over into the start of the second quarter where Caine Rogers found WR Channin Harris in the end zone from 8 yards out to give Byrnes their first lead of the night 14-10.

Another short drive and punt for Dorman put all the momentum in the hands of Rebels as they began what was the pivotal drive of the game from their own 26. Struggling to get anytime in the pocket against the Dorman front four, Rogers put the ball in danger again on a 3rd down throw, this time however Ja’Bez Thomas had eyes for the end zone as the scampered down the sideline for the score to give the Cavaliers back the lead 16-14 (extra point was blocked).

The following Byrnes drive went 3 and out, forcing a punt and giving Dorman a chance to extend their lead. QB Meek Slydell marched his offense down the field on an 8 play, 36 yard drive for the score as he found Dai Watkins-Hymes from 9 yards out.

The 23-14 Dorman lead would hold into the half. In the 3rd quarter, the Cavaliers would find the score sheet one last time as they added a Ransom Farr 40 yard FG to push the lead out to 26-14. The Rebels were in need of a score and QB Caine Rogers shook off his earlier turnovers to find WR Channin Harris on a screen pass that would go the distance from 68 yards away to send the Nixon Field crowd into an uproar. Tacking on the extra point, the Rebels now trailed 26-21 with 7:27 to go in the 3rd.

That would be as close as the Rebels got to evening the score. Both defenses ratcheted up the intensity in the second half, getting to both quarterbacks early and often. The Rebels would mount one more promising drive before a costly Rogers fumble gave the Dorman offense another short field to ultimately put the game out of reach.

What’s Next

The Dorman Cavaliers improve to 4-1 on the season and will host the Boiling Springs Bulldogs next friday night.

The Byrnes Rebels drop to 3-2 on the season and will go on the road to Riverside