The DeKalb Middle School Saints football team had high hopes last Thursday evening as they took on the White County Warriors. Not only had the team won their previous two matches against tough opponents, but it was also Homecoming Night at DMS, with a large turnout of fans in attendance. The game would be somewhat evenly matched in the first half, but would slip away in the second.
DeKalb would get the ball first to start the game, with Juan Ortega falling on the ball at the 22 on the kickoff. The Saints find yards tough to come by however, with runs by Ortega and QB Jon Hendrix only moving to the 29 before being forced to punt.
It would seem as fortune might be smiling on the home team on the kick. The Warriors’ Cole Sims fielded the ball then fumbled, resulted in Hendrix falling on the ball at the DeKalb 31. From there, once again yardage would be premium. A run by Ortega lost a yard, then a high snap resulted in the loss of one more. An Ortega carry then got the Saints their first first down of the game at the 42, but a holding penalty on the next play backed them up 10 more yards. A Hendrix keep would get most of the penalty yards back, but a couple of Ortega runs would only net seven more yards. Again, the Saints would have to punt.
This time White County was looking for blood. The punt rolled dead at the Warrior 31. Then, an Exavior Gamblin keeper took the ball to the 44. Another Gamblin carry went up the sideline to the nine, then, as the second quarter began, a Sims run was good to the eight. Another keeper was good to the one, followed by another, stuffed for no gain. Facing a fourth and goal, Sims was again handed the ball, in for the touchdown. A two-point pass attempt was broken up by Cole Bain, but the Warriors took the first lead, 6-0 with 6:51 left in the second quarter.
The Saints would start their next drive back at the 24, where an Ortega run was good to the 30. A Hendrix run was good for four more, then an off sides penalty aided DeKalb even more. A Wyatt Carter run took the ball to the 46, then an Ortega carry was stuffed at the line. A muffed snap ended with Hendrix scrambling and losing two yards, then a keeper only gained one yard back. Facing fourth and 11, the Saints once again had to punt.
It was then that it looked like disaster might happen. On the punt, the snap was on the ground and ended with Turner Bryant falling on the ball at the Saints 35. The Warriors were in prime position, but a pair of false start penalties backed them up with a first and 20 at the 45. A pitch back to Sims got the penalty yards back, then a pass to Andrew Price fell incomplete. A QB keeper only reached the 32, and White County was forced to punt.
Again the Saints would be unable to move the ball. Starting at their own 32, DMS would only net two yards before being forced to punt.
The Warriors would also find yards hard to gain, and as the clock wound down on the half they would be forced to punt. The Saints would run one play before halftime, with the score still at 6-0 White County.
The Warriors would start the second half with the ball at their own 42, where a lateral to JoJo Dowell ended with him in the end zone, but a holding penalty resulted in the score negated and the ball placed back at the 50. It wouldn’t matter however, with the next play, a QB keep, running up the middle for a touchdown. The two-point pass attempt was intercepted by Ortega, but White County was up 12-0 with 7:33 left in the third.
The Saints started their next possession at their own 43, where an Ortega run was good to the Warrior 48. After another high snap, Ortega was handed the ball again, taking it to the White County 39. Carter then had a run to the 25, followed by another Ortega run to the 22. Ortega gained four more yards on the next play, then Hendrix called his own number, carrying it in for a touchdown. Another keeper was stopped for the two-point conversion, but the Saints were on the board, 12-6 with 4:32 left in the third.
Unfortunately that would be the last points the Saints would see in the game. White County started their next drive at their own 49, and made quick work to answer DMS. A second down run by Sims was good to the DeKalb 43, then an off sides penalty gave the Warriors a first down at the 38. From there, a Dowell carry was good for another touchdown. A keeper was good for two points and with 2:50 left in the third the Warriors were up 20-6.
The Saints just couldn’t get any traction going from then on. Their next possession started at midfield and would lose yards four yards before having to punt. Another low snap on the kick ended with Bryant unable to get the punt off, and running for his life. He would be caught at the Saints 41.
White County smelled blood and once again made them pay. As the third quarter wound down, a Sims carry was good to the 31, then a pass to Tucker Pinion was good to the 25. A Dowell carry was good to the 10, followed by a Sims run up the middle for a touchdown. A keeper was good for two, and just like that the Warriors were up 28-6.
Starting at their own 44, DMS would only move nine yards on their next drive. On a fourth and one play, a Hendrix keep ended with a fumble at the White County 40 and the Warriors falling on the ball.
With only 4:48 left in the game, White County would move the ball down to the 18, eating up valuable time. On a fourth and seven the Warriors went for it, with the run stopped short. The Saints got the ball, but with only 1:08 left to play, the game was essentially over.
The Warriors took the 28-6 win. The Saints are now 2-3 on the season.
