Dixon spoils Spring Creek's homecoming

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on September 23, 2007 2:18 AM

• Print
• Email

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek's players looked back at the scoreboard one last time as they entered the halftime break.

Two turnovers enabled the Gators to take a 12-7 lead at intermission, something they hadn't accomplished all season. But Holly Ridge Dixon eventually spoiled Spring Creek's homecoming festivities with a 28-12 victory at "The Swamp."

Trailing 7-0, the Gators recovered a fumble at the Dixon 26-yard line. Working with a short field, Spring Creek cashed in on Adam Daniels' 9-yard run and pulled within 7-6.

Minutes later, the Gators' defense recorded a touchdown. Alex Dunmire picked off a Bulldog pass and sprinted 26 yards to the end zone. The conversion failed again, but Spring Creek owned the lead at 12-7.

That advantage was short-lived as the third period started.

The Gators fumbled the kickoff and Dixon capitalized. The Bulldogs added two fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the game out of reach and keep Spring Creek winless in five outings.

Dunmire led the Gator offense with 94 yards on 10 carries.

Defensively, Jeremy Sanders, Dwight Strickland and Adam Hinson all recovered fumbles. Sanders and Jaelyn Lee led the Gators with six tackles each.

Dixon's win marked the second time this season it had rallied from a five-point halftime deficit. T.J. Scott led the Dixon rushing attack as he carried for over 160 of his team's 221 yards on the ground.

"The players were a little bit down on themselves at halftime because we were making costly mistakes," said Dixon head coach Dal Tomlinson. "I told them at halftime they needed to forget about the first half and to have fun.

"In the second half it was a whole new ball game."

Spring Creek concludes its non-conference schedule at home Friday against Sampson Union. Dixon improved to 2-3 with both wins coming against the Class 1-A Carolina Conference.

Editor's note: The Jacksonville Daily News contributed to this report.

Holly Ridge Dixon 7 0 7 14 -- 28

Spring Creek 0 12 0 0 -- 12

Second quarter

SC -- Daniels 9 run (kick failed), 5:12

SC -- Dunmire 26 interception return (run failed), 2:37

Dixon SC

Rushes-yds 37-221 23-133

Passing yds 17 36

Total yards 238 169

C-A-I 2-4-1 5-9-1

Fumbles-lost 5-3 2-2

Penalties-yds 5-45 2-10

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Spring Creek -- Montrell Carmichael 6-10; Adam Daniels 4-24; Alex Dunmire 10-94; Chris Ponce 3-5.

PASSING -- Spring Creek -- Nick Hatem 5-9-1 36.

RECEIVING -- Spring Creek -- Alex Dunmire 3-22; Derek Stickland 2-14.