At some point you just have to ask, how do they dig these runners up? And as simple as the answer may be, simply calling on the next man up, even if that means going to the JV ranks, that doesn’t make it any less incredible. When it comes to the fullback position, Goochland coach Joe Fowler likes to keep it simple.
“We don’t ask our fullbacks to do much more than stick nose up inside to be tough runners and David is built for that. He’s a big sturdy kid who runs with good body lean.”
It wasn’t but a few weeks ago that Dyer was playing junior varsity ball. With Patrick Clore out because of an ankle injury and Nathan Mattox sidelined with a concussion, Dyer got called up for the Bulldogs first round Eastern Section game against Nottoway. The sophomore turned in a 16-carry 72-yard effort as Goochland steamrolled its way to a 45-7 win. Last week Dyer churned up a 5.78 yard per carry day when he ran for 104 yards on 18 attempts and helped pave the way for another 45-7 drubbing, this time of Central Woodstock.
And just like that, Bulldogs are watching another back begin to flourish in their Wing-T system, and it could not have come at a more opportune time. Now in the third round of the playoffs, Goochland is facing its first huge challenge in unbeaten King William which had little trouble dispatching Buckingham County last week. After facing the toughest challenge of the season with their regular season finale against then undefeated Amelia, the Bulldogs had things on cruise control to start their playoff run. Against the Cavaliers, the James River District champions finally have their hands full again. And just like with Amelia, Goochland is set on imposing its will.
“They are as fast or faster than any team we have seen this year,” Fowler said. “We don’t run into too many teams that are faster than we are, but they might be. We hope that we can play physical and force them into a tactical game where our special teams can be a big advantage.”
So as the Bulldogs hope to grind down King William, Dyer can expect another significant workload this week. But Dyer doesn’t have to do much more than keep his two game average of 5.18 yards per carry right at about that mark.
Goochland’s defense has allowed an average of 6.67 points in its last three games. Punter Thomas Meadows has given his team outstanding field position when the offense is unable to move the chains. Kicker Colby Cooke allows the Bulldogs to walk away with 3-points instead or rolling the dice on fourth down. Cooke has four field goals in three games and 14 on the year.
So if Dyer can put his team near the goalline or just set up Cooke nicely in the redzone, it’s going to be a solid Black Friday for the Bulldogs, because if there has been one certainty this year, it’s that Goochland’s defense combined with Meadows’ punting is about the safest bet in the area.
King William (12-0) at Goochland (12-0), Friday 7 p.m. Group A, Division 2 Eastern Section third round
The basics: Twenty-four times King William and Goochland have set foot on the field in 2011. Nobody has been able to find an answer for either squad. That’ll change Friday night, but this is a titanic Group A clash that pits the straight-forward Wing-T attack of the Bulldogs against a spread-formation squad out of King William that likes to run the ball too. Goochland is controlling the clock and the final score with the power-run despite the absence of leading rusher Patrick Clore. The defense has been particularly stout, stuffing opponents the last three week (including highly-regarded Amelia) to a grand total of 20 points. King William is playing for respect and can flat out run with 5-foot-7, 165-pound D.J. Johnson leading the way Goochland, who beat its first two Eastern Section playoff opponents by a combined score of 90-14, will likely have to call on the lessons it learned during terrific back-to-back victories to close out the regular season against Amelia and Buckingham. Business is about to pick up for the Bulldogs.
Key matchup: Goochland’s rugged offensive line takes on the King William’s defensive line. The Bulldogs have been able to physically dominate most squads they’ve faced up front and even against challenging lines like Amelia, Goochland has stood the test. King William will have its hands full with the seasoned Bulldogs in the trenches, players like Matthew Haller and Roger Stone who have made sure the Goochland ground attack keeps powering forward. If Goochland is able to assert its will up front behind the big fellas, King William could be in for a long night.
Who to watch: Goochland’s Jess McLaughlin. The Bulldogs’ leading tackler has been a stalwart all season, but he’s played his best on the biggest stage. Back in the regular season finale against Amelia, McLaughlin covered up a fumble late in the game to help seal the win over the Raiders. Tonight’s clash with King William is, obviously, the biggest contest of the season so far, so look for McLaughlin to come up big.
The line: Goochland by 3. This one will be closer than the Bulldogs want, but they should be able to take care of business and keep moving on.
