It was Homecoming week at DCHS with celebrations taking place each day leading to the week’s culmination, the Homecoming game against the Gordonsville Tigers. The DeKalb Tigers came out ready to play, and put on a show for the huge hometown crowd.
Gordonsville would kick off to DeKalb to start the game with Jon Hendrix returning the ball to the 36. From there, the black and gold Tigers would waste little time putting points on the board.
With quarterback Briz Trapp out due to illness, Jordan Parker took the reins of the team and started with a keeper to the 41. Gordonsville then got a big dose of Ari White who carried for the next five plays, down to the Gordonsville 32. There, another Parker keep was good to the 29, then another White carry was down to the 23. On a first and 10 play, a Parker pass connected with Trace Hamilton in the endzone for six points. With the Adrian Prater extra point, DeKalb was up 7-0 with 7:04 left in the first quarter.
Gordonsville would return the kick to the 32, and would then face a tough DeKalb D-line. A Jemario Williams run was good to the 39, then another was stuffed at the line by Wil Farris. A pass was connected to Lee Scurlock to the DeKalb 47, then a pass to Waylon Kennedy was caught at the 44. Gordonsville then handed the ball to Williams two more times, reaching only the 39. Facing fourth down, Gordonsville went for it. The Williams run was stuffed at the 38 by Austin Nicholson and DeKalb took over on downs.
It was DeKalb’s second possession of the game and they once again looked to put points on the board. A White run was good for nine, then a Parker keep was good to the Gordonsville 47. White carried three more times as the second quarter began, down to the 37, where a keeper took the ball to the 32. On third and five, Parker connected a pass to Jon Hendrix at the 25 for a first down.
Parker called his own number the next two plays, down to the 16, then to the three. White was stuffed at the line on the next play, but after a low snap was handed the ball again. This time he was in for the touchdown. The extra point was good and the DeKalb Tigers were up 14-0 with 7:45 left in the half.
Gordonsville just couldn’t get going and would go three and out on its next possession. The punt would sail into the stands, giving DeKalb the ball at its own 42.
DeKalb looked to strike once again, but after reaching the Gordonsville 32 the drive would fall apart. A Ryon Lyons run was stuffed for no gain, then a pass to Lyons went over his head. A pass to Marquez Chalfant connected, but a fumble ended with Gordonsville falling on the ball at the 25.
Even with a bit of luck, the Gordonsville Tigers couldn’t get moving. A Williams run ended with a one-yard loss and almost a fumble, then a pass Dalton Hancock only netted five yards. A pass to Kyle Adams fell incomplete. Gordonsville lined up to punt, but J. Foster kept the ball and only made it to their own 34. DeKalb took over on downs.
This time DeKalb would make them pay. A keep was good to the 24, then a White carry was down at the nine. White ran again, this time to the one, then Parker kept the ball himself, in for six. With the extra point, DeKalb was up 21-0 with 33 seconds left in the half.
Gordonsville would return the kick to the DeKalb 46, but with 19 second left in the half, they took to a desperation play. A pass was intercepted by Nicholson and DeKalb would end the half with a shutout.
DeKalb kicked to Gordonsville to start the second half, and it didn’t take long for the Gordonsville Tigers to finally get on the board. Dalton Hancock fielded the kick and broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown. With the extra point, Gordonsville cut the lead 21-7 with 11:45 left in the third. It would be the last gasp for either team.
DeKalb would start at its own 40 on the next possession, and would drive down to the Gordonsville 26 where the drive would stall. On fourth and six, a false start backed them up five, then a pass to Hamilton was tipped incomplete. Gordonsville took over on downs. It wouldn’t last long.
A Williams carry lost two yards, then another pass was intercepted this time by Ty Webb at the 40.
It would be a slugfest from then on with each team punting. Gordonsville would have one last chance late in the fourth quarter, starting at their own 22. They would reach the DeKalb 37, where three pass plays would fall incomplete giving the ball back to DeKalb. With only 1:40 left to play, DeKalb simply ran out the clock claiming the 21-7 victory.
DeKalb improves to 3-2 on the season, while Gordonsville dropped to 2-3. DeKalb County will travel to Crossville to take on a tough 4-1 Stone Memorial team this Friday.
