For the second time this season the DeKalb County High School Tigers football team let a game get away from them, slipping into overtime. Despite having a two-score lead at halftime, the Tigers fell in overtime in an important game that would decide third or fourth place seeding in the playoffs.
The Tigers were hosting the Stone Memorial Panthers on Senior Night, and the last regular season game. The Panthers won the toss and deferred until the second half.
On the kickoff, Holden Trapp would return to the DeKalb 45, and with good field position the Tigers would strike quickly. DeKalb opened up with an air attack, starting with a Jordan Parker completion to Holden Trapp to the Stone 33, then to Malachi Trapp for a two-yard loss. Parker threw deep to Malachi on the next play, just out of reach, then connected to Holden at the seven. With a first and goal, Parker eyed Malachi for a completion in the end zone. With Juan Ortega’s extra point, DeKalb was up 7-0 with 9:36 left in the first.
Stone Memorial would start their first drive of the game at their own 24. There, they took a page from the Tennessee Vols playbook, running up to the line and snapping the ball quickly. Running on the legs of QB Hunter Heavilon and running back Kaleb Flowers, the Panthers reached the DeKalb 42. There, the DeKalb defense would hold them to a fourth down and three at the 35. The Panthers would go for it, and a pass to Jayden Eldridge was good to the 23.
With the fresh set of downs deep in Tiger territory, it looked as if the Panthers would get on the board. Another keeper would reach the 10, then, after an incomplete pass, a Flowers run reached the six. A pass to Flowers was stopped at the three, and again facing fourth down, with the goal to go, the Panthers rolled the dice. Heavilon kept the ball but was stuffed at the line. DeKalb got the turnover on downs at the three.
Backed up deep the Tigers were conservative and would only reach the 12 before deciding to punt. The Panthers would get good field position, starting at midfield. This time Stone Memorial would find their way to the end zone.
Running keepers and carries by Flowers, the Panthers would reach the 38, where a pass to Eldridge was completed to the 33. Two more carries by Flowers were good to the 24, then after an incomplete pass, a Houston Woody run was downed at the 23. A pitch to Flowers was good to the six, then Heavilon called his own number and was into the end zone. With the PAT, the Panthers were on the board 7-7 with 3:14 left in the first.
Stone Memorial would squib the kickoff, giving DeKalb good field position at the 48. From there, the Tigers would make a quick strike of their own. A Colby Barnes carry was stuffed for a one-yard loss, then another run was good to the Stone 49. There, Parker connected a pass to Austin Nicholson who ran it all the way in for six. The snap on the PAT was on the ground, but Ortega was able to get it through, and DeKalb was back on top, 14-7 with 10:24 left in the half.
The Panthers would start their next drive at their own 24, but a false start backed them up to the 19. A keeper gained six yards, then a pass went incomplete. Flowers was handed the ball again and reached the 36, then Heavilon was sacked back at the 31. On the next play, a pass was intercepted by DeKalb’s Johnny Skinner, and downed at the Stone 32. From there the Tigers would add to their lead.
A Parker keep was good to the 27, then a pass to Holden Trapp went over his head. A pass to Malachi Trapp was deflected, and facing a fourth down the Tigers went for it. A pass to Josh May was complete, and aided by a roughing the passer penalty the Tigers were set up at the two and a half yard line. Malachi Trapp was handed the ball and was in for the touchdown. With the PAT, the Tigers commanded a 21-7 lead with 8:01 left in the half.
Both sides would have possessions before the half would end, Stone punting from their own 48, then DeKalb punting from their own 46, The Gottlied punt would back the Panthers back at their own three, but they would reach the 47 before a roughing call would give them good field position at the DeKalb 38. There, a fumble was recovered by Ari White and run back to the Stone 35 with three seconds left on the clock. Barnes would run up the left side but would be stopped as time expired.
If the first half belonged to the Tigers, then the second half belonged to the Panthers. Stone would get the ball and start at their own 32, where they returned to their fast-paced offense. An Eldridge run was good to the 44, then a keeper was good to the Tiger 44, but a holding call negated the gain. Stone would be backed up even more after Heavilon was sacked by Barnes and White at the 29, but a Eldridge carry got them back to the 50. On a third and four play, a Flowers run was good to the DeKalb 43, then a pass to Eldridge was good to the two. Heavilon would again keep the ball himself, taking it in for the touchdown. A low kick on the PAT was good, and the Panthers cut the lead 21-14 with 10:03 left in the third.
DeKalb just couldn’t get going in the second half. After another squib kick, they were set up at their own 48, where Barnes would run to the Stone 44. Barnes would gain two more on the next carry for a new set of down, then he would reach the 39 on another run. There, Parker would be sacked back at the 46, then sacked again back at the 50. The Tigers would have to punt.
The Panthers would start at their own 37, but wouldn’t do much better. Runs and keeps would get them to the 44, but a false start and a block in the back would result in them punting from the 36.
The Tigers would go backwards on their next possession. Starting at their own 35, an illegal shift backed them up five, then a carry by Josh May gained only two. A Parker pass to Holden Trapp was too high, then a delay of game backed DeKalb up even more. Barnes would run up the middle reaching the 29, where the Tigers would have to punt.
The punt was short and Flowers would return the ball to the DeKalb 49, but again Stone would not be able to move. They would end up losing three yards before punting themselves.
As the fourth quarter began, DeKalb would go three and out after starting at their own 21. They would gain only one yard before giving the ball back to Stone. The punt set up the Panthers at the 50, and this time Stone would make them pay.
A Heavilon keep was good to the 45, then a Flowers run was out of bounds at the 33. Heavilon then connected with Eldridge who was in for the touchdown. The PAT was good and with 9:39 left in the game, Stone had tied the game 21-21.
DeKalb would have its chances to again pull ahead, but miscues would plague the drive. Staring at their own 39, the Tigers would move down the field in what looked like a scoring drive. With passes to Holden Trapp and runs by Barnes, they would move down to the Panther 23, where a pass to Malachi Trapp would be dropped. Facing a fourth and two at the 23, DeKalb went for it and the Barnes run was good to the 21 for a first down. There, everything fell apart.
A Barnes carry was good to the 19, but a hold backed the Tigers up to the 34. Parker would then be sacked at the 39, then a pass to Malachi Trapp was only good to the 35. Another pass to Malachi was incomplete in the end zone, and facing a fourth and 24 at the 35 DeKalb would punt.
Both teams would go three and out, and Stone would have the ball again as regulation ran out. The game would go into overtime.
Stone won the toss and deferred, giving DeKalb the ball at the 10 yard line first. Malachi Trapp was handed the ball down to the two, then Barnes ran it in for a stand up touchdown. A low kick on the PAT was good and DeKalb was up 28-21.
It was then the Panthers’ turn. A keeper was good to the one, then another had the ball at the half yard line. Heavilon kept it once more and was in for the touchdown. Stone then rolled the dice, going for two. The Heavilon pass was complete to Brady Lane for two. The Panthers claimed the 29-28 victory.
Stone Memorial (9-1, 4-1) claimed the regular season region championship and will host Hixson (5-5, 3-3 Region 3) in the first round of the state play-offs. The Tigers (6-4, 2-3), finished at 4th place in the region and will travel to East Hamilton (7-3, 6-0 Region 3) next Friday, November 4, for the first round of the state play-offs. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. (EDT).
