The crowd was out in force last Thursday as the DeKalb Middle School Saints football team hosted the Upperman Yellow Jackets for their final home game of the season. The night also served as Eighth Grade Night, honoring the eighth grade players, cheerleaders, and managers for the team.

The Yellow Jackets would receive to start the game, and Elijah Barlow would return to the Upperman 39. From there, the Yellow Jackets wouldn’t get far, actually losing seven yards before having to punt.

The Saints would start their first possession at the Upperman 49, but plagued by penalties their drive wouldn’t do much better. With a hold and two false start penalties, DeKalb would have to punt from their own 41.

Upperman would take possession back at their own six, and a sack of QB Barlow would be down at the one. Runs by Jude Fitzpatrick and Colson Johnson would net only four yards and the Yellow Jackets would again be forced to punt.

Saints’ QB Jesse Foutch would return the punt to the Upperman 17, where DeKalb looked to add the first points of the game. A carry by J.T. Summers was good to the 11, then a run by Cecil Ketchum was downed at the two.

As the second quarter began, Ketchum was handed the ball again, this time for a touchdown. A false start, then a delay of game penalty on the two-point conversion backed the Saints up, and a shuttle pass fell incomplete, but the Saints were up 6-0 with 7:53 left in the half.

Upperman just couldn’t get going and their next possession would end in even more lost yardage. The return set them up at their own 42, but one run was stopped at the line, then another for a two-yard loss. Barlow looked to pass on the next play, but would tuck and be sacked back at the 32. Facing a fourth and 20, they would again punt.

The Saints start at their own 40, but would quickly move past mid field. A Foutch keep was good to the Upperman 49, then a Ketchum carry was down at the 47. Foutch would gain another first down at the 35, then it was Ketchum again to the 29. Foutch gained another two yards, then Ketchum was downed at the 19. It looked as if DMS would extend their lead.

A Foutch keeper was good to the 17, then a false start backed the Saints up five. A pass to Summers fell incomplete, then a holding penalty backed DeKalb up even more. A keeper ended with a sack at the 33, then a pass to Kiece Hannah fell incomplete. The half would end, but the Saints were still on top 6-0.

The Saints would receive to start the second half, and Ketchum would return to the DeKalb 42. From there, DMS got back on track and would add to the scoreboard. An off sides call on the Yellow Jackets gave DeKalb an easy five yards, then a Ketchum run was good to the Upperman 49. A keeper added two more yards, then Ketchum was down at the 44. Another Foutch keep took the ball to the 29, but there a couple of false start penalties backed them up 10 yards. Foutch called his own number and this time was in for six. A pass to Summers was caught for the two-point conversion and DeKalb held a 14-0 lead with 3:58 left in the third.

The Yellow Jackets would return the kick to their own 40, and there would finally mount a drive of their own. After an incomplete pass, and Barlow taking a sack by Chase Young back at the 34, a pass was complete to the 43. Facing a fourth down, Upperman went for it. The Barlow keep was downed at the DeKalb 28.

Barlow kept the ball two more plays, reaching the DeKalb 11, where, as the fourth quarter began, a Fitzpatrick run was good to the two. Barlow kept the ball again, this time for a touchdown. Another keeper on the two-point try was no good, but Upperman was on the board, 14-6 with 7:54 left to play.

The Yellow Jackets would try an onside kick on the kickoff, but DeKalb would fall on it at their own 48. There, a Ketchum run netted one yard, then a keep was good to the Upperman 47. Another Ketchum run was good to the 47, but a holding call negated the carry. On a third and 16 from their own 41, a keeper was stopped at the line. DeKalb would punt.

Upperman would start at their own 36, and once again make Saints’ fans nervous. A keep was good to the 40, then another took the ball to the 44. Barlow would gain a new set of downs on the next run, taking it to the 47. A pair of Fitzpatrick carries were good to the DeKalb 39, then a deep pass to Gunner Block was caught for the touchdown with 1:20 left in regulation.

The game hinged on the two-point conversion. The Barlow keeper was caught and no good. The Saints kept a 14-12 lead with 1:20 left to play.

The Yellow Jackets had only one chance left. The onside kick was downed by DeKalb at the Upperman 44. The Saints would run out the clock and claim the hard-fought victory.

The Saints play a makeup game with Macon County, before playing their final game on the road against Prescott Middle School on September 20.