Football is a game of toughness and for overcoming adversity. So many times we see teams deal with injury, miscues, and overwhelming odds, but for the DeKalb Junior Pro Peewee Tigers adversity meant dealing with the loss of one of their coaches, Shane "STU" Usrey.
Usrey passed away last week and at Saturday’s games, both Peewee teams wore a Boston Red Sox emblem that featured Usrey’s initials in honor of their coach. But, it was the Peewee Black team that gave everyone inspiration, after a scoring run by one of the young players touched all who witnessed it.
The Peewee Black team was facing the Smith County Owls when Usrey’s son, Matthew, took the ball in for a 70-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The extra point attempt failed, but the six points gained on that play was a victory for the entire team.
As the game went on, the Owls would come back, winning the match 12-6, but the Peewee Black team won the day with their courage and resolve.
The Peewee Gold team took on their Smith County counterparts in a game of their own that day. The Owls would put up big yards on offense, but it was the Tigers that would come away with the win.
The Owls would take possession of the ball first, and drove all the way down to the DeKalb 14-yard line. Smith County looked to score, but a fumble in and then out of the end zone would result in a touchback.
DeKalb would punt on their first possession, and it looked as if the Owls were poised to take control of the game. A 10-play drive would bring them down to DeKalb’s four, but a goal-line stand by the Tigers’ defense would give the ball back on downs.
Two plays later, DeKalb Quarterback Briz Trapp handed off to Conner Close who took the ball in for a 83-yard TD. With the PAT no good, the Tigers took the lead, 6-0.
As the game came into the second half, the Tigers’ Marquez Chalfant would take the ball on the first play from scrimmage 70 yards for the touchdown. Another failed PAT put the score at 12-0.
Smith County would not give up, and found the end zone early in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead in half, 12-6.
The Tigers were not done however, with Ryan Thompson getting a 45-yard run for a TD. A successful extra point gave the Tigers a 19-6 lead.
Smith County would continue fighting, getting one more score, but the clock was the Owl’s enemy. The game would end with a Tigers’ victory, 19-12.
The Peewee Tigers remain unbeaten for the season, 3-0, and find themselves in the top spot in the league.
The DeKalb Junior Pro Senior Tigers faced the Smith County Owls that day, but fell to a shutout, 26-0.
The Owls held the Tigers to less than 50 yards of offense, while the Owl offense came away with 230 yards and four touchdowns.