It’s football time in DeKalb County, and Tiger Coach Steve Trapp told the Review last week that the High School team is ready to take on all comers.
In spite of some schedule changes for the 2015 season that leave a few question marks for the Tigers, Trapp said the redrawn districts this year may benefit the team. “Our schedule has changed a little,” the coach said.
“We no longer play Livingston, Trousdale, or White County. Those teams have been replaced with Grundy, Sequatchie, and Cumberland Counties. Every four years the TSSAA redraws the districts according to school size, and we actually have dropped down to 3A this season after competing in 4A for quite a few years. Our district for the last few years has been made up of 3A and 4A teams, and now it is all 3A teams, with us dropping down,” he shared.
“It is good for us, because we stayed with the same teams that have been in our district, like Smith, Upperman, Cannon, and York, with Grundy and Sequatchie coming into the district as well. Livingston and Macon stayed in 4A, but we are still playing Macon. There is some unknown with Grundy and Sequatchie, but both teams have new coaches, so we are in wait-and-see mode on those guys. Upperman, Smith, and York all return a lot guys, so this district will be very competitive, but one we feel like we should compete in very well in.”
Even though some standouts from last year who graduated will be missed, Trapp said there are many talented young players ready to step up. “Each and every year we lose guys that have played a vital role in the program, and that was definitely the case last season,” he said.
“We had a significant amount of seniors that were four-year guys, and some that decided to play before their high-school days were over. That is important in order for us to continue and forge a tradition of competitive football here at DCHS. Even though last season was an up-and-down year, it is one that I am extremely proud of. The group of seniors we lost can claim that they were the first group of players to be in the playoffs all four years of high school. At one point in the season last year that opportunity could have gone away. We had a number of injuries to key guys last season, but the team battled and fought their way into the playoffs, and did not ever give up on the accomplishment. That in itself is why I am extremely proud of the group of guys we had last year.”
The Tiger coach said that while the offense has yet to prove itself in competition, Junior Quarterback Steven Jennings, with two years starting under his belt, should have the experience to lead the team to the goal line.
“We are very excited with the potential for our offense, but that is exactly how we are describing our team right now, as a team that has a great deal of potential, but has to prove it on the field,” said Trapp. “There is no doubt that when people think about our offense this year that they will start at the quarterback position with Steven Jennings, and rightly so. Steven has done a good job for us in his already two years as a starter, but he has a different look about him this year, and is poised for a stellar season. In order for that to happen, though, we all know that everyone around has to have a stellar season as well, and we feel like we have that type of team.
He said some returning linemen, as well as some new faces, should help carry the Tiger offense, and that the team has several receivers who show potential.
“Although for many years we have been known for quarterbacks and wide receivers, we firmly believe that it all starts up front on the offensive line, where we are returning three starters from last season. Eli Cross and Devin Zaderiko, our tackles from last season, have had a tremendous off season in the weight room, and are solid up front on both sides of the ball. Luke Green returns as our center, and has done a great job as well in the weight room and by being a leader on this team. We have to fill our two guard spots, and we have three guys vying for those positions. They are Matthew Judkins, Tayvian Nokes, and Gage Delape. All three are capable, and will also give us the opportunity to not have so many lineman going both ways. None of these guys are seniors, with Gage Delape being a sophomore, so our line looks to be in good shape for a couple of years,” Trapp said.
“We also feel that we have a solid group of receivers for this year’s team, even though for some it will be their first action as starters,” the coach continued. “Matthew Poss, Isaiah Jones, Bradley Miller, and Christian Pruitt are all guys that have the ability to make big names for themselves on offense this year. Again, all these guys are juniors, with Bradley Miller being a sophomore. A.J. Mooneyham is the lone senior on our offense this year who was a starter last season, and Troy Bain will also be involved heavily with our offense in certain personnel groupings.”
The coach said the Tiger backfield looks strong as well.
“Our running back depth is better than it has been in the past as well, with three pretty solid choices. Drew Castorena, who has played wide receiver in the past, will now carry the ball from the backfield spot. He is a very athletic guy, and is exciting when he has the ball in his hands. We also have Taylor Lee, who will also carry the ball for us. Taylor has great vision, does a tremendous job in pass protection, and is a smart and heady player. Both Drew and Taylor are juniors. We do have a freshman option in Tyler Bundy. Tyler is an extremely physical runner also with great vision, and is going to make a good player for us. He has a lot to learn, but look for him to possibly get a few touches on game nights. So, in a nutshell, we have an offense that is experienced up front and at the QB position and some extremely talented guys coming into the spotlight that we feel very good about.
The coach said the defensive game looks even better for 2015.
“As excited as we are about the offense, we are equally excited about the defense this season, and for many of the same reasons,” said the coach. “We have a good depth up front, and some returning experience with Cross and Zaderiko playing defensive ends. Tayvian Nokes played every position up front at some point last season, and did a good job when his number was called.
“Newcomer Gage Duggin, we feel, has a chance to be really special defensive lineman for us this year. Aside from Duggin, who is a senior, again the rest are all juniors. We feel depth in the d-line is one of our strong points on defense, with a rotation that includes some younger guys and upper classman. Brady Hughes, Damion Dishman, who are sophomores, as well as, Noah Gill, a freshman, will give us some depth on that d-line this year, as well as Troy Bain, Matthew Judkins and Luke Green.
Trapp said the Tigers behind the line look good this year as well.
“At linebacker we have one returning starter, and that is sophomore Jesse Smith. Jesse is natural linebacker, and flows and finds the football tremendously well. Joining him in that core will be Jordan Whitehead, a senior who has done a great job in that role through spring and fall camp. We also have Tyler Lee, a junior, who will be in the LB group. Giving us depth in these positions will be Josh Hembree, a senior, Taylor Lee, Matthew Judkins, and Tyler Bundy. In the secondary we have moved A.J. Mooneyham back to safety, where he played his sophomore year, to give us a more physical presence on the back end of our defense. Joining him at safety could be a number of options for us. Christian Pruitt played there last year, we have Taylor Lee also, and sophomore Riley Sexton, who has done a good job for us this spring and fall camp. At corner we have Matthew Poss and Drew Castorena with quality depth behind those guys with Bradley Miller and Isaiah Jones,” the Tiger coach shared.
So, defensively we are a lot like offense,” Trapp summed up. “We have some experience up front with new guys stepping in to contribute, but we also feel with the depth that we have we will not have but only a few guys that consistently play both sides of the football.”
“We will pass the eyeball test,” Trapp said of the team’s size this season. “Our team has done an exceptional job in the weight and conditioning program Coach Shaw and I put them through during the winter and summer. Our guys are leaner and quicker than they were last season, but also heavier.”
Coach Trapp said Matthew Poss has the ability to make some spectacular plays with his kicking game as well. “Matthew Poss was named preseason all-state in Murphy Fair's book for punter,” the coach said. “Matthew will be a huge producer for our football team this year with all the roles he will be asked to fill. He will play receiver, punter, kicker, and defensive back. He is a very athletic young man, who does all of these tasks very well. He has a strong leg, so do not be surprised if he catches an 80-yard TD pass, kicks the extra point, then kicks off into the end zone, gets an interception, and kicks a 45-yard field goal right before the half. He has that capability.
He said it will be Tiger Pride that brings the team together.
“Tiger Pride is the basis of we’re our football program starts. We define Tiger Pride in many ways, but if I had to do it in one word it would be "People." Tiger Pride is about people coming together to work for a common cause, not for themselves, but for the good of the people. We stress in many different ways how important it is to do what we do to affect people in a great way, and we want that to carry over into everything we do, not just football, but in life,” he said.
I just want to say thank you to our school family and the community for supporting DeKalb County Football and all the athletic programs. We have, and will continue to, work extremely hard to put a product on the field that is competitive, and one that this community can be proud to call their own. Please come out watch us live and help create a magical atmosphere for these student athletes to perform in,” the coach concluded.
The Tigers will travel to Watertown on Aug. 15 (Saturday) to participate in the Jamboree. The event will begin with the JV team at 7 p.m. and the varsity team will play following that game. A percentage of the ticket price will go to the Tigers, so make the short drive to Wilson County and support the team.
The regular season opens Aug. 21 at Warren County, and DeKalb will travel to face Stone Memorial in Crossville on Aug. 28, and will take on the Purple Dragons at York Institute in Jamestown on Sept. 4. before meeting Cumberland County on the Tigers home turf at Vanhooser Memorial Stadium in Smithville.
