The Cannon County Lions Alumni are challenging The Tiger Alumni to one more time on the gridiron, full gear, full contact, under the lights for charity. The roster for DeKalb has been released, and includes Tigers who originally played as far back as 1994.
Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. on March 14 at the Cannon County High School field. A total of 42 former DeKalb County players are registered for the game. Tickets are available from any player, or can be purchased by calling 615-418-6874. While funds from tickets bought locally before the game will go to the DeKalb County football program, gate proceeds will not, so it is important that DeKalb supporters pre-purchase tickets. Admission is $10.
Alumni Football USA will be helping both teams organize their rosters and their practices. Alumni Football USA has raised over $2 million for schools and communities since 2010. This year alone close to $330,000 has been raised.
According to Alumni Football USA president and founder Bob Cazet, the organization has put on over 1,000 games in 24 states in the past 29 years. They have helped raise over 770 thousand dollars for local communities around the country.
"We have done games for over 75,000 players and they have loved it," Cazet said. "There are thousands of guys out there who feel the same way, and our message to them is: you can also play. All they need to do is call us, get on a roster, pass the word to their buddies, and we will do their game, help raise money for their schools, and give their communities (family, friends, and associates) a show they'll never forget. We are making memories, solidifying new relationships ('82 grads playing w/'99 and 04' grads), and challenging men to help create better communities through these new relationships. This is a very fulfilling and gratifying position. I do not take it lightly. We work long hours and enjoy the "fight" every day to get the message to guys that they can play again. Most guys can't and don't believe it is real, until they actually play. Like we used to yell in unison on those long, warm summer nights while we played football in the street and our mom's would yell it's time to come in, ‘One More Play!!!’ That's all we are doing today...’One More Play’..."
DeKalb’s roster for the game includes: Steve Trapp – 1996, Michael Shaw – 2000, Chris Chapman – 2013, Steven Ferrell _ 2002, Nick Guess – 2004, Steven McCormick – 2008, Hunter Patterson – 2005, Justin Braswell – 2002, Jacob Rankhorn – 2004, Devin Thomas – 2011, Alex Hayes – 2013, Cole Parsley – 2013, William Johnson – 2005, Matt Brown – 2002, Ryan Childers – 2007, Tom Vaughn – 2006, Ben Johnson – 2000, Lance Ball – 2015, Toby Nokes – 1993, John Roller – 1996, Chris Roller – 2000, Lee Howard – 2002, Mike Corley – 1973, Tyler Cantrell – 2008, Kyle Edwards – 2003, Caleb Cantrell – 2013, Matt Boss – 2013, Hunter Poteete – 2010, Lucas Phillips – 2013, Chris Cantrell – 2005, Chris McMillen – 1999, Will Molander – 2013, Justin Poteete – 2009, Jason Miller – 1998, Josh Emberton – 2009, Jacob Hale – 2015, Kevin Kijanske – 2011, Matthew Orcutt – 2007, Caisson Martin – 1995, Michael Gilley – 1994, and Brian Bundy – 1996.
