By By Robby Atkinson/special to The star
November 9, 2002
ENTERPRISE Davieon Dixon may not be an Olympic sprinter, but Dixon proved that playoffs is the right time to shine. Dixon had a career night with 19 carries for 208 yards in the first round 34-18 playoff win over Newton.
Bulldog head coach Jud Gartman was all smiles after the impressive win over the Tigers.
Enterprise took the opening kick-off and put themselves into excellent field position. Dixon returned the ball 43 yards and only one play later the Bulldogs scored their first touchdown of the evening.
Dixon did the honors and scampering in from 42 yards. Michael Swancey added the extra point and made the score 7-0 early in the first period.
Newton went to work on offense after the quick EHS score and tried to execute a passing attack. Quarterback LaDarrian Blaylock connected with Coshune Bingham for a 12-yard gain, but one play later the Tigers faced disaster.
Enterprise came up with a fumble recovery by Adam Simpson that put the Bulldogs at the 46-yard line in great position for their next score. Enterprise used five plays on the ground and Colter Cannington scored the touchdown for the Enterprise extending the lead to 14-0 with 7:20 left in the first quarter.
The rest of the first quarter was dominated by both defenses until the Tigers got on track with a huge play to open the second quarter.
After a great punt by Swancey, the Tigers came up with the biggest play of the night on offense. Blaylock threw a quick pass to Bingham and 90 yards later Newton was in the endzone. The PAT was blocked and the Tigers cut the score to 14-6 with 10:52 remaining in the first half.
Enterprise came right back with the old-fashioned running game, but the Tigers recovered a fumble at the EHS 39-yard line to bring the offense back on the field. Montez Moore recovered the loose ball for Newton and 10 plays later Newton scored its second touchdown of the quarter.
Traveone Evans scored on a 3-yard plunge that made the score 14-12 after a failed two-point conversion attempt with 2:09 left in the second.
Enterprise answered with a final score before the half and from its star of the game. Dixon went into the endzone for his second score from 66 yards out. The Bulldogs went on top 21-12 at the half following Swancey's kick.
Dixon had 181 yards in the first half of play, with 132 yards in the second quarter alone, to pace the Bulldog running attack.
Newton did however open the second half with a fast score to make the game even more interesting. After a 62-yard pass from Blaylock to Bingham, the Tigers scored on a five- yard run from Cornelius Caraway to make the score 21-18 after a failed PAT with 10:20 left in the quarter.
The Bulldogs put the game away late in the fourth quarter to secure the first round win. Simpson scored on a three-yard run with 5:01 left in the quarter. Zeb Swain then made a hard fought run for a 13-yard score to put Enterprise in the win column. Swancey made one of two kicks to close out the scoring.
The Bulldogs had 316 yards of total offense and all of the yards came on the ground. The Enterprise defense also had a great showing by collecting seven sacks. Kelly Jimmerson had three of the seven sacks on defense for EHS and Swain led the way with eight tackles on defense.
Enterprise moves into a second round game with a familiar opponent in Bay Springs. The Bulldogs defeated Bay Springs earlier in the season 21-0 at home.