Fifty years of football in DeKalb County was on the minds of all who gathered in Smithville when the 2012 season kicked off. The black and gold clad fans had heard all summer the Tigers were building a juggernaut, but even the staunchest supporters weren't ready for what was about to happen at VanHooser Field.
The Tigers walloped the visiting Warren County Pioneers 50-0, the most lopsided decision in the 12 meetings between the two schools.
The Tigers were returning most of the key components of an 8-2 team, including quarterback Lucas Phillips, receiver Sonni Young, all-around offensive weapon Will Molander, and a host of offensive and defensive linemen. Coach Steve Trapp still remembers the group fondly.
"It's the best team we've ever had," said Trapp. "We had over 80 players and didn't have more than two guys going both ways.
"We were loaded on offense. We had weapons, Will Molander, Sonni Young, Lucas Phillips at the helm. It was a great group."
The Pioneers, on the other hand, were coming off an 0-10 campaign and were looking to start fresh.
Being in Smithville wasn't a good start.
The Tigers dominated from the onset, getting an early TD run by Molander to start the scoring. It wouldn't stop for awhile.
Devonta Milan set up the next score with a long punt return to the Pioneer 10. Phillips would cash in moments later on a scoring toss to Lance Ball, one of four the senior Tiger QB would throw in the contest.
With the Pioneers reeling, Molander hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass down the seam right before the end of the first quarter to make it 21-0. The Tigers would score three more times in the second quarter.
Milan ran for a 28-yard touchdown, Chris Chapman dove in from a yard out and Young snarred a 29-yard touchdown on an uncovered fade route to give the Tigers six scores on their first six possessions. Two blocked extra points were the only blemish for DeKalb County, which entered halftime ahead 40-0.
Mercy came the Pioneers way at the start of the second half by way of a running clock. It didn't prevent the Tigers from rolling up points though.
Phillips extended the Tigers string of possessions with scores to eight by finding Cody Puckett wide open for a 52-yard touchdown, then leading a drive that ended with a 32-yard field goal by Ben Driver.
Ahead 50-0, Phillips and the Tigers starters all took a seat. Phillips finished the contest an efficient 11-of-14 for 186 yards and four touchdowns. He also led the Tigers in rushing with 79 yards.
Phillips' growth was something that still sticks with coach Trapp.
"When Lucas showed up, he was 5-foot-2 and couldn't throw it 20 yards, but he had a competive edge," said Trapp. "He worked and worked and got bigger and better."
Demolishing the Pioneers was on the start of a dominant run for DeKalb County. The Tigers followed it up by blanking its next two opponents, Cannon County and Clay County, by a combined score of 107-0. The Tigers didn't give up a score until its fourth game - a 58-7 victory over White County
DeKalb County carried an undefeated record through its first nine games, along with an absurd scoring margin of 428-66. The Tigers met their match against Livingston Academy in week 10, suffering a 35-14 defeat.
However, DeKalb County bounced back to beat Seqouyah 39-21 in the opening round of the state playoffs. The win secured the program's first 10-win season in school history. It was also only the fourth playoff win in school history.
A week later, Livingston Academy ended the Tigers' season with a 37-14 loss in the second round of the playoffs.
"Livingston Academy was the one team we couldn't beat," Trapp said. "I run into the guys to this day and we still talk about it. It still hurts."
While the pain of the finale still remains, starting the 50th year of DeKalb County football with a 50-0 win is a quality consolation prize.