The DeKalb Junior Pro football teams were on the field last Saturday, getting in final games before the start of the 2014 regular season. DeKalb hosted the Middle Tennessee Football Conference’s Jamboree and official weigh-in day, and showed that they are a force to be reckoned with this season.

The Jamboree marked the final warm-up opportunity for all seven league teams, and guest Pickett County. This year the conference expanded to seven teams with the addition of Monterey, Baxter, and Crossville, while Smith, Fentress, Overton, and DeKalb Counties remained in the conference from 2013. With the additions, each team will face other teams only once before the two-weekend tournament at the conclusion of the season.

The money raised at the jamboree, along with gate fees the league collects from its home games, will benefit all three DeKalb County Junior Pro teams.

The Jamboree also served as the official registration and weigh-in day for the teams. Players in each division, Pewee, Junior and Senior must weigh-in to ensure they are at or below a maximum weight to participate in any "skilled" position on the team. The conference has defined these "skilled" positions on offense to be quarterback, running back, tight end, and receiver. On defense the positions are linebacker, ends, cornerbacks, and safeties.

The weight limits for 2014 are Peewee - 86 pounds, Junior - 106 pounds, and Senior - 126 pounds. Any player determined to be over the weight limit will be designated a "striper" for the entire season and will only be allowed to participate in a "lineman" position for both offense and defense. All stripers will be identified on the field with a one to two-inch contrasting stripe on their helmet that will be placed there after weigh-in.

The Peewee Tigers took the field in a steady downpour for most of the game. The youngest of the Junior Pro teams played well, especially on defense, as the Black and Gold held the Gordonsville Tiger Cubs scoreless for most of the game. The Cubs later broke off a long 71-yard touchdown run in the final minutes of the game, giving DeKalb a 6-0 defeat.

The Peewee Tigers will open up regular season this Saturday when they travel to Baxter to take on the Bees. Game time is 4:00 p.m.

The Junior Tigers defeated their Gordonsville counterparts 13-0 later that day. In two quarters of play the Black and Gold defense held Gordonsville to just 51 yards of total offense, while the Tiger offense opened up for 106 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Tiger veteran running back, Silas Cross, led all Tigers on the day, rushing for 55 yards and a touchdown in the contest. Mason Winters added 24 yards and a touchdown, while three other Tigers, Ryan Thompson, Andrew Vickers, and Briz Trapp, each added yards of their own on the ground. Konner Young added an extra point in the win.

The DeKalb defense never let Gordonsville get into any kind of rhythm in the contest, allowed no passing yards, and forced a fumble deep in Gordonsville territory that set up Winter’s touchdown.

The Junior Tigers will travel to Baxter Saturday to open regular season play. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

The DeKalb Senior Tigers closed out the 2014 preseason on a high note Saturday, defeating the Gordonsville Tigers 6-0.

The Tiger defense was nothing short of spectacular in the contest, holding Gordonsville to minus 30 yards, and forcing a fumble in the game. The Tiger offense struggled early in the contest, but a second quarter, 18 yard touchdown by Desmond Nokes proved to be enough to hand the Tigers the victory.

The Tigers will travel to Baxter this Saturday to open up the regular season. Game time is 7:00 p.m.