By J.D. Cowart, For the Star-News

Behind a strong defensive effort by the Dadeville defense and 213 passing yards from quarterback Kaleb Beck, the Dadeville Tigers advanced to the second round of the AHSAA playoffs with a 34-14 victory over Straughn.

“Kaleb was able to come out and get in a groove for us after being out last week,” DHS head coach Richard White said.

After stalling on the first possession of the game, the Tigers mounted a strong drive into Straughn territory with the feet of running back C.J. Tolbert, as Beck dove in from three yards out to take the early score to 7-0 with one minute left in the first quarter.

Tolbert went on to finish with 45 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, while Beck added to his aerial assault with 38 yards on the ground.

Straughn tried to mount a drive to end the quarter, but fumbled an option pitch for a 20-yard loss as the first quarter expired.

Dadeville held Straughn to 132 total yards on the night.

DHS added three touchdowns in the second quarter, as Beck connected with tight end Darrion Hutcherson for a 31-yard gain to the Straughn 28-yard line.

SHS head football coach Trent Taylor said the players gave a tremendous effort despite the loss.

“I can’t do it justice with words, but we played the second half like you just wouldn’t believe,” Taylor said. “I just couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids.”

DHS  running back Jamal Crayton got around the right side of the Straughn defense for a 28-yard touchdown scamper one play later, giving DHS a 14-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the half.

Straughn then caught their first, and virtually only, break during the game, when DHS punt returner Jessie Foster muffed a punt on the DHS nine yard line and Straughn recovered.

The visiting Tigers scored four plays later, as running back Chase Short dove in from four yards out to take the score to 13-6.

DHS then widened the scoring gap as Beck connected with Tolbert for 38 yards on two consecutive pass plays, and then found Hutcherson for five yards and Terry Toler for 11 to put DHS in scoring territory. Tolbert scored from one yard out to make the score 20-6 with three minutes left in the half.

Straughn then had their biggest gain of the night, as Short burst through the DHS defensive line for 24 yards. The drive stalled four plays later.

Dadeville struck for the third time in the second quarter, when Beck connected with Hutcherson for a 63-yard touchdown reception and a 27-6 lead at the half.

Hutcherson lead the Tiger receivers with 115 yards and a touchdown, while Toler finished with three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Straughn made a statement to open the third quarter, with a long kickoff return to the DHS 30-yard line.

After Straughn quarterback Zach Turvin overthrew a wide open receiver for a touchdown on third, Turvin made up for it on fourth down with an eight-yard touchdown pass to freshman Darrell George to cut the DHS lead to 27-14 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.

After a 21-yard scamper by Jamal Crayton into the Straughn red zone, Beck completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Toler for a 34-14 advantage, as both teams went scoreless in the fourth quarter.

The victory sets up an epic second round match-up in Dadeville next week when 2010 state champion Thomasville will come to Tiger Stadium.