Fans could not ask for a better start to the DeKalb Saints football season. In three games the offense has put up 92 points, while the defense has held their opponents to a big goose egg, an impressive start for a team who had not captured a shutout in at least two seasons.
The Saints had a short week last week after their second game of the year, against Southside in Lebanon, was called due to rain and poor field conditions. The game was rescheduled for the following Tuesday and the team picked up where they had left off in their first game.
The DMS defense gave up just 18 yards and only two first downs in the game, while the offense came away with 311 yards and 12 first downs. Tyler Bundy and Issac Hall each rushed for over 100 yards in the game, with Bundy taking one rushing touchdown, and Hall getting two. Quarterback Colter Norris also connected with Tanner Poss for a passing TD. The Saints scored 30 points in the first half, then nailed the coffin shut in the second half with eight more points, getting the second shutout of the year, 38-0.
Only two days later, the Saints were on the field again, this time at home facing off with border rival Cannon County. Again, DMS powered their way through the game.
Cannon received the ball first at their own 40, and the Saints’ D stood strong. The Lions were held to a three-and-out with only two yards gained. The resulting punt gave DeKalb the ball on their 38, and two plays later they would be in for six. Each play, the ball was handed to Bundy, the first a 56-yard run to the six, and the next in for a TD. Bundy wasn’t finished. A handoff to Bundy was in for two points. The Saints were up 8-0 with 4:19 left in the first quarter.
On Cannon’s next possession, the Saints D pushed the Lions back for another three-and-out and negative yards, but DMS would not be able to capitalize on the stop, with their drive stalled by penalties.
The Lions had the ball going into the second quarter, and mounted a drive that looked to spoil the Saints’ shutout record. Cannon drove all the way down to the DeKalb 12-yard-line, but a keeper on fourth down resulted in a loss of yards and the Saints took over at their own 19.
This time DeKalb would cash in on their possession. Their drive, including a first down run by Bundy and a first down pass to Grayson Redmon, went seven plays to the six-yard-line. There, the Ball was handed to Bundy and the Saints had six more. A pass to Nathan Atkins for a two-point attempt fell incomplete, but the Saints were up 14-0 with 2:44 left in the half.
The D-line held Cannon to another three-and-out for negative yards, and the Saints started their next drive on the Lion’s 30. The drive went four plays, with runs by Bundy and a pass to Poss. Then it was Bundy, again plowing his way into the end zone. The extra point attempt was no good, but the Saints increased their lead, 20-0 with 12 seconds left in the half.
DeKalb started off with the ball the second half, but a holding penalty put the Saints in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. The D-line then held the Lions for yet another three-and-out for negative yards.
The punt gave the Saints the ball back at their own 45, and five plays later they had six more points. With runs by Bundy, and tosses to Poss, the Saints were set up on the Cannon 15. Then, a pass to Isaac Hall put them in for a TD. A run for two was stopped, but DMS was up 26-0 with 47 second left in the third.
It was a defensive game for the fourth quarter as neither offense would move much at all. The Saints D, held the Lions to only one first down and only four positive yards in the quarter. The Saints took the victory, 26-0.
"We did some good things, but we still have some things we need to improve," Head Coach Tad Webb told the Review. "It’s just like any game, you assess the good and you assess the bad. We’ve got some things we’ve got to fix, especially going down this next stretch."
When asked what the team needed to work on, Coach Webb said there are some good teams coming up that will take advantage of weaknesses. "Defensively, yes we’ve held them out, but we’re about to get into a run where we’re going to see better and better teams. We had a few break downs that we were able to overcome tonight and in the past, but against some running backs that I know we’re fixing to come up against, they’ll make us pay."
"Overall, I’m pleased and happy," he continued. "We’re 3-0, it’s a great start to the season."
