Blue Devils blown away by Cyclones
By Michael Orr

Chester High School scored four first half touchdowns and used a goal line stand to record their second consecutive shut out beating Dreher 36- 0 on October 19. SEC recruit and Shrine Bowl player C.C. Whitlock passed for two touchdowns and caught another as the Cyclones quick- strike offense overwhelmed the Blue Devils.

Following three largely inactive possessions to start the game, Chester opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a Terrell Springs 4- yard touchdown run. The Cyclones' drive, with Eugene McCaskill at quarterback, consisted largely of spread option and timely passes. Dreher was unable to stop the no- huddle attack in a microcosm of the rest of the evening.

Dreher opened the second quarter with successful runs by Chris Hickman and Shane Van Dyke. A 31- yard fake punt run by Marquel Goodman kept the Dreher drive alive but back- to- back false start penalties would derail the Blue Devils' foray into Cyclone territory midway through the quarter.

Chester responded with Whitlock passing to McCaskill on several occasions and a 23- yard run by Springs. An off sides penalty against Dreher on fourth- and- two from the Blue Devils' 7- yard line gave the Cyclones the ball on the 3- yard line. From there, Whitlock galloped untouched into the end zone giving Chester a 16- 0 lead with 6:44 left in the half.

Photo by Morgen Young Dreher's Sterling Epps runs to the right side. He had 115 yards rushing on 18 carries.

The Cyclones finished the half scoring twice more, both passes from Whitlock to McCaskill. The first was from 45- yards with 5:14 left and the second came exactly five minutes later from the 15- yard line.

Ardamian Player opened the second half on a positive note for Dreher, intercepting Whitlock's pass on the Dreher 20- yard line. But that would be the only highlight in the quarter for Dreher as Chester marched down the field with McCaskill at quarterback. A 24- yard touchdown pass from McCaskill to Joseph Reed pushed the Cyclone lead to 36- 0 with 6:01 remaining in the third quarter.

As the third quarter closed and the fourth quarter began, Dreher provided their fans with their only hope for a touchdown on the night. Aided heavily by two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties assessed against Chester, the Blue Devils were able to move the ball and control the clock. A fourth- and- eight from the 32- yard line was converted with a thirteen- yard gain to Tyler Shiver Beverett and Sterling Epps gave Dreher solid carries inside the 10- yard line of the Cyclones. Having reached the 1- yard line, however, the Blue Devils stalled. Four consecutive runs were stymied by the suddenly aggressive Chester defense and Dreher was denied their chance to put points on the board.

Photo by Morgen Young Jacob Gindman (7) back to pass for Dreher. Gindman and Matt Martin alternated at quarterback all night.

Dreher falls to 1- 8 and will close its season in the Bacon Bowl against arch- rival A.C. Flora October 26 while Chester moves to 7- 2 and will host Fairfield Central in an attempt to finish second in Region III- 3A.