Dexter senior runningback Derrick McGowan rushed for 139 yardsand 2 touchdowns and threw for a score at Harry Cole Field Fridaynight. This effort, along with 3 fumble recoveries by the defense,aided the Bulldogs in a big 30-22 Region 4-1A victory over theEnterprise YellowJackets.

Enterprise closes out the regular season at home Friday night,with a 7:30 p.m. date with fellow Lincoln County and region rivalBogue Chitto. Dexter hosts Mt. Olive Thursday night.

“Turnovers were the key to the ballgame,” said Enterprise headcoach Ricky Deere. “We played well.”

Enterprise (7-3, 6-2) used a ball-control offense to run timeoff of the clock in the opening quarter. At the 2:18 mark, fullbackGerard Vaughn bulldozed his way into the end zone from 3 yards out.Scott Sasser’s PAT kick was successful. Key play in the 70-yard,8-play drive was a 21-yard pass play from Justin Kyzar toShermaineVaughn, giving the Jackets the early 7-0 lead.

Dexter (7-2, 6-2), running out of the ancient Notre Dame Boxformation on offense, would respond to the call at the 7:20 mark ofthe second. McGowan tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to TorryCrumedy. McGowan’s PAT kick was wide left and the Bulldogs foundthemselves trialing 7-6.

The Jackets tacked on a score with 12 seconds remaining in thefirst half. The 15-play, 62-yard drive culminated with ShermaineVaughn diving into the endzone from 1-yard. Key plays for the drivewas by Vaughn on a fourth-down fake punt. The scoring drive took anamazing 7:08 off the clock. Enterprise held a 14-6 lead at theintermission.

Dexter opened the second half, running out of the I-formation.McGowan tied the game at 14-14 with 5:47 left in the third with a6-yard touchdown run. Crumedy’s conversion pass to Gamble wassuccessful. The 28-yard, 6-play

drive took 2:41 to complete. A Jacket fumble started thedrive.

“We weren’t really moving the football on their defense in thefirst half,” said Bulldog head coach Randy Sumrall.

Enterprise’s second fumble of the night, set up Dexter’s nextscoring opportunity.

Sumrall’s ballclub gained first-and-ten at the Jacket’s 28. FredHaynes hit Gamble in stride for a 6-yard touchdown pass. On adouble-reverse, Crumedy’s conversion run was good. The Bulldogstook a 22-14 lead with 1:54 left in the period.

Entering the final period, the Jackets were determined not togive up. Pierre Harthorne took a handoff from Monti Crotwell andraced 17 yards to paydirt off a double-reverse. Kyzar passed toRufus Allen for the successful conversion try to tie the game at22-22 with 3:07 left in the game.

Dexter returned the ensuing kickoff 14 yards to their own 34 fora first-and-ten. McGowan took the direct snap from center, dartedaround left end and raced 66 yards to the endzone with 2:39remaining on the clock.

The Jackets appeared to be heading for a possible game-tyingscore.

On fourth-and-11 from the Bulldog 42, Kyzar’s pass wasintercepted inside of a minute. Dexter took 3 snaps to run out theclock.

Defensively, Shermaine Vaughn led Enterprise 11 tackles.Harthorne, Chase Raiford and Whit McGraw had 5 tackles apiece.Jamaal Vaughn recovered an onside kick. McGraw had a passbreak-up.