By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

Dallas County’s defense gave its fans a homecoming to remember Thursday night in a 20-0 victory over Sumter Central. 

The Hornets (2-2, 2-1) held Sumter Central (1-3, 1-2) to 15 total yards on offense as Dallas County picked up an important win in the class 5A, region 4 race.

“Defense played very well tonight,” said Dallas County head coach Marty Smith. “They followed the gameplan and they did a good job.”

Dallas County quarterback Lane Wallace went 2-for-15 passing the football, but the offense was sparked by running backs Calvin Starks and Darrell Moorer.

Dallas County’s defense took care of everything else.

After exchanging punts to begin the game, the Hornets’ defense forced its first turnover after recovering a fumble at the Jaguars’ 45-yard line at 9:35 in the second quarter. The drive stalled with a missed field goal.

Immediately after, on Sumter Central’s next drive, Dallas County forced a fumble and Kendrick Howard picked it up and ran it back for a touchdown with 2:58 remaining in the first half.

The Hornets took a 7-0 lead into the halftime locker room.

“They performed well. They keyed in on what we were trying to do,” said Sumter Central volunteer coach Dexter Williams.

The defense kept the momentum going in the second half. Dallas County’s Patrick Haskell recovered a Jaguars’ fumble at 9:44 in the third quarter. The ensuing 49-yard Hornets’ drive resulted in a Moorer 7-yard touchdown run.

Moorer finished the game with 16 rushes for 72 yards.

With 26 seconds left in the third quarter, Sumter Central recovered a Wallace fumble, but the Jaguars didn’t hold possession very long.

The very next play, Hornets’ Javarrius Dudley recovered a fumble and gave it right back to Dallas County. A turnover on downs stalled the drive, but Dallas County wasn’t done turning the ball over on defense.

With 8:09 left in the fourth quarter, Quincy Parker intercepted a pass for Dallas County. Starks would cap the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:31 remaining in the game to take a 20-0 lead. Starks led the game in rushing with 22 rushes for 108 yards.

Aside from Starks and Moorer combining for 180 yards on the ground, Smith didn’t like what he saw from his offense as a whole.

“Offense has got to catch up with the defense,” Smith said. “Our defense is giving us opportunities to win.”

Williams is hopeful Sumter Central can grow from its loss at Dallas County.

“When bad things go wrong, you can’t lay down. You’ve still got to execute and you’ve still got to show up every play,” Williams said.

Dallas County faces Bibb County at home next Friday. Sumter Central is at Greensboro next Friday.