The DeKalb Seniors Tigers took the Smith County Owls down in a 19-8 game Saturday in the semi-final game of the Middle Tennessee Football Conference playoffs in Livingston. The win will send DeKalb to atone for its only loss of the season, to Livingston, who the Tigers will battle for the conference championship this Saturday.

While Smith County threatened with the first touchdown of the game, and a good two-point conversion, only 48 seconds into the contest, the Tiger defense immediately tightened the noose, ensuring that the Owls did not cross the goal line again.

With 1:58 left in the first quarter, an Issac Knowles run brought the Tigers within two point of the Owls, 8-6, and Quarterback Kolter Kilgore sprinted across the goal line with 1:29 left on the clock in the second quarter. A good PAT by Knowles gave DeKalb a 13-8 lead at the half.

The Tigers capped the win with 3:39 left in the third, when Kilgore again slipped across the line to bring the score to 19-8.

Knowles led the Tiger offense, carrying the ball 22 times for 146 yards and scoring a touchdown. Desmond Nokes ran the ball seven times for 60 yards, Josh May ran seven times for 56 yards, and Drew Vickers rushed for six yards on two carries. Kilgore gained five yards on the ground in three attempts, adding seven passing yards for the Tiger offense and scoring twice.

DeKalb rushed for 282 yards as a team in the game.

Desmond Nokes had four tackles and an interception in the game, while Josh May and Colby Barnes each had three tackles. Brady Hale, Issac Knowles, Matt Vickers and Grayson Hendrix had two tackles each, and Joel Rader and Drew Vickers added one tackle each.

The Tigers will play for the conference title this Saturday at 7 p.m. at Livingston Academy.