Dillon leads Pine to big victory over Varnado

Published 10:19 am Sunday, September 15, 2013

Pine’s Derrick Dillon ran for 220 yards on 13 carries, scored four touchdowns and passed for another to lead his team to a 43-6 victory over Varnado on the road Friday.

Dillon had 106 yards and three scores in the first half, and through two games he has rushed for 489 yards and six TDs, with two more scoring tosses.

And while it was a good game for visiting Pine, it was a tough night for homestanding Varnado.

Coach Scott Shaffett said he suspended several veteran players prior to the game, and his young squad was outmanned and could not find the end zone until the final quarter.

He apologized to the fans but said the indefinite suspensions came due to an in-house matter that had to be addressed.

“You have got to have everybody on the field, but I’d rather have 11 guys who are going to work, be disciplined and are going to dedicate themselves,” Shaffett said.

“We are going to win some games, but we’re not going to do it at an all-or-nothing cost. We’re going to do it where we are all disciplined, and we all play as a team together. When we play together and come together, we’re going to be pretty good.”

Pine (2-0) got out of the gate early.

Varnado (0-2) went three-and-out on the game’s first possession, then after a 13-yard punt Pine was set up with good field position at the Wildcat 46. Dillon took the snap, ran left, got in the open field and went the distance.

“We did a little fake to get the linebackers going. The linemen blocked like they were supposed to and gave me a lane to run through,” Dillon said.

Dillon lined up at running back for the 2-point conversion, took the handoff from Trevor Stuart and was successful to make it 8-0 just 1:13 into the contest.

The game remained that way until the 2:34 mark of the first quarter. Pine took possession at Varnado’s 41 after making a defensive stand, holding the Wildcats on fourth-and-inches. On the fifth play Dillon took a handoff from Stuart and found the end zone. Adarrius Berry (59 yards on 13 attempts) was good for 2, and it was 16-0.

“My line, they’re blocking excellent,” Dillon said. “I can’t ask for better.”

Following the score Varnado went on a 14-play, 30-yard drive that took 5:30 off the clock, but the Wildcats were stopped a yard short on a fourth-and-14 play.

Pine then went 73 yards on 10 plays, using 3:38 off the clock. Dillon scored on a keeper, then Tory Robertson ran for the 2-point conversion, and Pine led 24-0.

Pine recovered an onside kick to begin the second half and went 49 yards for its next score. Devonta Pigott made a nice 26-yard TD catch on a pass from Dillon. The extra point was no good, keeping it 30-0 with 10 minutes left in the third.

After a three-and-out by Varnado the Raiders drove 77 yards in 12 plays, all runs.

Nick Sapp took it in for the Raiders from the 3, Devin Phillips’ PAT was good, and it was 37-0 with 1:56 left in the third.

Varnado returned the ensuing kickoff to Pine’s 33 and took the ball to Pine’s 1-yard line.

But on fourth down VHS fumbled, and Phillips recovered for the Raiders at the 2.

On the first play of the next drive Dillon lined up at running back, took the handoff, ran right and hit the sideline, going all of the way to the end zone for a 98-yard run. That score was the last for Pine. The PAT was no good, and the Raiders led, 43-0.

“My lead blocker (Berry) blocked the man to the outside. I cleared it off of him, and I just hit the sideline after that,” Dillon said.

Pine coach Bradley Seal said Dillon will be huge for his team every week.

“He just comes out and works hard every day,” Seal said. “You know what you’re going to get. He’s a complete player. He threw the ball well tonight and ran the ball well.”

Dillon was 5 for 9 passing for 73 yards.

Varnado broke the shutout with 4:49 left in the game when Nick Darden took a handoff, ran right and scored from 18 yards out. The 2-point conversion was no good, reflecting the final score, 43-6.

Both teams are back in action Friday on their home fields.

Pine has its home opener against Bogalusa (0-2), while Varnado battles Jewel Sumner. (1-1).