Southwest dominates in Chase Dupree’s return to defeat Macon County 38-13

The Southwest Patriots started their season with a bang Friday afternoon, defeating the Macon County Bulldogs 38-13 at Thompson Stadium in Macon thanks to a shutout on defense and the return of quarterback Chase Dupree on offense.

Southwest’s defense dominated the Bulldogs, who had to stick to a run-heavy offense after they failed to establish a passing attack.

“Just guys doing their assignments and understanding their responsibilities and going lights out,” Southwest head coach Joe Dupree Jr. said of his defense’s effort after the game. “The front seven did a really good job. We knew they had a pretty good running back over there and knew we would have to stop the run.”

The real story was the head coach’s son returning to the football field, a roster addition the elder Dupree made sure to keep very low-key during the preseason. Chase did not play last year because of a hand injury he sustained playing summer basketball and, after an incredible basketball season in the winter, was not expected to play football this season.

Even once the game began, Chase did not enter the game until the second quarter — but once he did, he made a difference. Chase connected on a touchdown pass and carried one in himself in the second half, regularly posing a threat to Macon County’s defense. The starter, Jonathan Hurley, held his own early as well.

“I was pleased with the quarterback situation,” Joe Dupree said, smiling. “Jonathan and Chase played very well moving the team. With Chase just coming back we had to shake some of the rust off, but  they both played well, read the ball and read the team very well. We got chances to score.”

Other standouts included star tight end and defensive end Rinaldo Callaway, who took a simple short pass the distance in the second half in an impressive display of speed, and running back Tkorian “Drop” Davis, who had an electric 51-yard scamper to the end zone in the fourth quarter that put things on ice for Southwest. Senior running back Chauncey Brown also contributed some key gains on the ground.

“It starts up front. O-line did a good job all day blocking. He found a hole and hit it, he’s a great running back and a really smart kid,” Dupree said of Davis.

There were some miscues. The Patriots had plenty of penalties — though Macon County did as well, it was a flag-heavy contest — and also had a fumble in their own end zone and allowed a kickoff return touchdown to give the Bulldogs their only two scores.

“We just have to clean things up,” Dupree said. “Too many penalties, we’re more disciplined than that. We need to have better execution on offense and tackle better on defense. Can’t give up big plays on special teams, I know that was late, but we have to fix that.”

The Patriots begin a challenging region schedule next week with a game against the reigning Class A-Division I state runner-up Northeast at home.

A well-rounded performance

The Patriots struck first after they stuffed Macon County’s opening drive, as a screen pass to the shifty runner Brown led to a 47-yard touchdown. Though the snap on the point after went awry, Montese Greene still managed to throw it to a receiver to net Southwest an unlikely two-point conversion.

While the Bulldogs threw an interception on their next possession to give the Patriots a chance at an even hotter start, Southwest fumbled in its own end zone and Macon County fell on it to make it an 8-7 game.

Southwest controlled the rest of the first half, as the Patriots had a few explosive plays to get on the board two more times. Callaway’s 58-yard touchdown was the most impressive, as he sprinted past the entire Bulldogs defense to make it 20-7 before halftime.

Macon County’s offense could not get rolling, as the run game would produce a few chunks but then be hampered by penalties or ineffective passing. The Bulldogs could not move the ball with any consistency.

The third quarter offered more of the same, as Macon County’s run game found a few first downs but could not get any bigger chunk plays. Southwest’s offense only seemed to improve as the game went on, as Chase Dupree got more snaps under center and made plays.

The Patriots truly pulled away at the beginning of the third quarter, when a Dupree QB scramble in the red zone gave them their fourth touchdown before an explosive touchdown run from Davis from 51 yards out truly cemented the Southwest win.

Macon County added on late with an impressive kickoff return touchdown by Jakel Green, but the Patriots had full control and won 38-13.