The Review will host the inaugural Season Opener Pep Rally on Thursday, August 17 to help get the DCHS Tigers fired up for the season opener at Warren County on Aug. 18.

The event will be held at Vanhooser Stadium the night before the game. Admission is free, and all Tiger fans are encouraged to come out and support the team as they begin the 2017 season. Start time is 6:30 p.m.

Fans will get a sneak peek at the players, and Tiger Head Coach Steve Trapp and DCHS Principal Randy Jennings will talk about the upcoming season. The Tiger cheerleaders will be joined by the Fighting Tiger Band to help fire up Tiger fans.

All Tiger fans are encouraged to come out and show your support for the team.

Meanwhile, with a little more than a month before football season begins, the DCHS Tigers are looking at a few changes this season.

The school will step up to Class 4A this year, and will compete in a new region, Region 3 Class 4A.

Tiger Head Coach Steve Trapp told the Review at the end of last season that while the schedule for 2017 has not changed that much, some tough competition will join the new region.

The Tigers will be in a new region, Region 3 Class 4A, with only four other powerhouse football teams, Livingston Academy, Stone Memorial, Macon and Cumberland counties. Tiger Head Coach Steve Trapp told the Review that while the region has changed, the overall schedule for next year has not been modified that much.

“Our overall schedule has not changed much in regard to the teams we are playing, but the teams that dictate whether you go to the playoffs have changed,” Trapp shared. “Our new region is made up of Macon, Livingston, Cumberland, and Stone Memorial. Three of those teams we have played the last couple of years, and Livingston is a team we have played and been in the same district with before. Most of our non-region games are with teams that we have been competing against for playoff spots the last few years, such as Upperman, Smith, Cannon, and Grundy. We are still opening with Warren, and have added Watertown back to our schedule as well.”

The season will open on the road at Warren County on Aug. 18.

“For me it is not about being happy or unhappy about our schedule. It is more about understanding what is needed to do in order to compete and be successful with the schedule you have. No matter what kind of schedule people may think you have, for us as a program, we have to do the things that are necessary to be successful, and that is continue to develop our players physically and mentally in the off season and help instill a “do everything right” mentality toward everything that is demanded of them,” the coach said.

The return of Watertown and Livingston Academy to the schedule brings back two traditional rivals from the Tiger’s past.

“As mentioned before, we have competed in the same district with Livingston in the past and that game always had a freak significance on championships and post season play as well,” the coach said. “It will be no different with them now. Watertown is a team that has had many games with DCHS throughout the history of our program and at one we had played more games against them than any other program in our history.”

Trapp said that football is a year-round commitment, and that his thanks go to the parents and community members who make it all possible.

“As always, I would just like to thank you to all the parents of our players and our community for all the things we are able to do because of their support,” the coach concluded.

The DCHS 2017 Football Schedule:

•             August 11: Jamboree Clay County (at Upperman)

•             August 18: Warren County- McMinnville 7 p.m.

•             August 25: Upperman- Baxter 7 p.m.

•             September 1: Stone Memorial*-Smithville 7 p.m.

•             September 8: Watertown-Watertown 7 p.m.

•             September 15: Grundy County-Smithville 7 p.m.

•             September 22: Cannon County-Smithville (HOMECOMING) 7 p.m.

•             September 29: Livingston Academy*-Livingston 7 p.m.

•             October 6: Smith County-Smithville 7 p.m.

•             October 13: Macon County*-Smithville 7 p.m.

•             October 20-BYE WEEK

•             October 27: Cumberland County* Crossville 7 p.m.

2017 JV Schedule:

•             August 21: White County-Smithville 6 p.m.

•             August 28: Upperman- Smithville 6 p.m.

•             September 11: Watertown-Smithville 6 p.m.

•             September 25: Cannon County-Woodbury 6 p.m.

•             October 9: Smith County-Carthage 6 p.m.

REGION OPPONENTS (*)