DeKalb Middle School finished off its football season on a high note Thursday night by defeating the Stone Memorial Panthers, 20-6.  Riddled with injuries and sicknesses, the Red and Blue squad put together an impressive game, both defensively and offensively, leaving no doubt as to the mental and physical toughness the team has garnered throughout the COVID changed 2020 season.

“All year long these kids have consistently answered the bell,” Head Coach Justin Poteete said.  “As crazy as this year has been, it’s been a fun year.  All throughout the year, these kids kept going every day.  These guys just showed up to work every single day.  We had low numbers again this year, but we had multiple seventh graders, and tonight even some sixth graders, stepped up to really help us.”

Most of the first half would be a defensive struggle as neither offense could generate much yardage, with both teams either punting or turning the ball over on downs on their first two possessions respectively.  Alex Lemons and Ty Webb both shined defensively for the Saints, each tackling Panther running backs for losses.

On the Saints’ third possession, however, the Saints offense awoke.

After the Panthers second drive stalled out on the Saints’ 23-yard line, runs by Saints’ quarterback Jordan Parker and running back Ty Webb, Middle picked up two first downs.  Parker then found Webb on a 62 yard strike to score the game’s first points with 23 seconds left in the first half.  The two-point conversion failed but the Saints took a 6-0 lead into halftime.

The Saints would continue to roll offensively in the second half. 

The Panthers would threaten to open up the second half, driving the ball deep into Saints territory behind big runs from running back, Khallie Dishman.  But the drive would end when the Panthers fumbled at the 6-yard line and the Saints recovered.

The Saints would punish the Panthers immediately for their mistake.

After Ty Webb picked up a yard on first down, Jordan Parker hit Axel Aranda on a 94-yard touchdown strike that saw Aranda blaze past the Panther defense.  Parker would find Aranda again for the two-point conversion attempt and with 4:12 left in the third quarter, the Saints took a 14-0 lead.

Parker would intercept Panther quarterback, Dylan Whittenburg on Stone Memorial’s next possession and three plays later Parker would find Ty Webb on a 24 yard touchdown pass to put the  Saints on the scoreboard again.  This time the two-point conversion would fail and with 47 seconds left in the third, DMS would expand their lead to 20-0.

But the Panthers would finally find life on the ensuing kickoff, as Dishman would return Aranda’s kickoff 60 yards for the Panthers first, and only, score of the game.  The conversion attempt would fail and the Saints lead was cut to 14.

But the damage was already done as strong Saints defensive play effectively put the game into cruise control as neither team would score in the 4th quarter, giving the Saints a victory on their final game of the 2020 campaign. 

With the win DeKalb finishes the season with a record of 6-3 and a second place finish on their side of the conference.  “Probably the thing I’ll remember the most about this season is that we finished in second place on our side and that’s something that’s only been done a couple of times here,” said Poteete.  “It’s something we can hang our hats on this year.  We’ll work for those seventh graders to take a step up for next year.”