The DeKalb Senior Tigers took to the road again Saturday, facing the Junior Pro team from Monterey, a conference rival, at Cornerstone Middle School in Baxter, and improving their overall record to 2-1 with a 22-0 win over the Wildcats.
While both team’s defensive efforts ruled the first quarter, leaving the score at 0-0 for the duration of the period, DeKalb finally broke the spell in the opening minutes of the second with a 10-play, 59-yard blast toward the end zone. The drive culminated in a two-yard touchdown run by Issac Knowles, and a good PAT conversion from Kolter Kilgore to Grayson Hendrix put the Tigers up 8-0.
The next play saw the Tiger Defense force the Wildcats to turn the ball over on a fumble, and on the first play of DeKalb’s possession Kilgore found Desmond Nokes, who took the ball all the way across the goal line. Issac Knowles took the point after in, and DeKalb’s lead increased to 15-0.
The Tiger defense forced a second fumble at the beginning of the third quarter, and after recovering the ball deep in enemy territory, the Tiger offense put six more on the board three quick plays later when Knowles dove into the end zone from the three-yard line. After another successful two-point conversion by Knowles, the Tiger lead went to 22-0, where it remained until the clock ran out.
The DeKalb defense recorded 30 tackles to help keep the Wildcats scoreless in the game, forced the team from Monterey to turn the ball over four times, and held them to 64 total yards on offense.
On offense, Kilgore went two for four and completed a touchdown pass to Desmond Nokes, as well as adding two yards rushing. Knowles rushed for 53 yards on 13 carries and scored twice. Nokes carried the ball six times, rushing for 35 yards and receiving for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Silas Cross and Andrew Vickers both rushed for three yards, and Tyler Estes added a yard on the ground. Grayson Hendrix caught brought down a 13-yard pass from Kilgore to round out the Tiger offensive effort.
The Senior Tigers will finally get a home game in this Saturday afternoon, hosting Fentress County in Smithville.
Meanwhile, the Junior Tigers continue with an undefeated season after a 15-0 win against Monterey.
When the Junior Tigers met the Wildcats in Baxter Saturday, a wet field likely contributed to a series of dropped balls and turnovers. While DeKalb turned the ball over to the Wildcats three times in the contest, the Tiger defense held the fort, giving up only 39 yards of total Monterey offense.
Despite problems with the damp pigskin, DeKalb, led by Quarterback Briz Trapp moved the ball 195 yards on offense, and two Konner Young touchdowns led the Tigers to the win.
While both teams defensive games held in the first quarter, the Tigers got on the board first after a nine-play 57-yard drive resulted in a seven-yard touchdown run by Young, who also converted the point after to put the Tigers out in front 7-0.
Young added six more to the score in the fourth quarter when he carried the ball in from the six-yard line. Trapp hit Conner Close for the two-point conversion, increasing the Tiger lead to 15-0.
Konner Young rushed 10 times for 49 yards and scored two touchdowns, while Mason Winter put in 38 yards. Stetson Agee added 17 yards on the ground, Conner Close recorded 16, Seth Cantrell had 15, and Ryan Thompson contributed nine yards rushing.
Trapp completed three of four passes for 36 yards. Conner Close caught two for 26 yards, and Stetson Agee brought in a 10-yard pass.
Defensively, the Tigers put 22 tackles on the books, recorded one sack, and forced a fumble.
DeKalb, now 3-0 on the season, will also meet Fentress County at home this Saturday.
The Peewee Tigers traveled to Baxter to play against Monterey Saturday as well, faring a bit worse than the older teams.
A surprising 60-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game put the Wildcats on the road to an 18-0 win. Monterey continued on, putting another touchdown on the board in the second quarter, then another in the third, while holding the DeKalb offense scoreless. Nick Murphy topped the Tiger offense, rushing for 21 yards on eight carries.
Ethan Spears ran seven times for 19 yards, Quarterback Jon Hendrix recorded eight yards on the ground, Cesar Gaspar ran for seven, and Blaine Atnip added six. Blaine Atnip, Ethan Spears, Nick Murphy, Gracin South, Cole McMillen and Ethan White each put tackles on the books for the DeKalb offense.
The Peewee Tigers, now 0-3 for the season, will also face the Bulldogs from Fentress County at home this week, and will be seeking their first win. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
