Tiger Trounce Wildcats in Homecoming Victory
By Chris Tramel
It was a huge game for the DeKalb County High School Tigers last Friday night, in more ways than one. Not only was it the highlight of Homecoming Week for the Tigers, it was also a very important regional game against a team that DeKalb had only beaten once, since 1994. The Livingston Academy Wildcats were in town, and it would be a night that would not disappoint.
DeKalb won the toss and elected to defer until the second half. On the kickoff, the Wildcats returned to their own 33. Aided by a facemask penalty on the Tigers, Livingston would move seven plays to the DeKalb 39, but then Axel Aldino intercepted a Nate Cowgill pass, taking it back to the Wildcat 47. Just four plays later, the Tigers were sitting at the Livingston 12, when Aldino called his own number and ran it in for six. Jasper Kleparek’s extra point kick was good, and with 7:34 left in the first quarter, the Tigers took a 7-0 lead.
Livingston's next possession started at their own 28, but the Tiger defense was ready to play. The Wildcats managed to push only to the 41 before having to punt, then the offense made them pay.
Starting at the Tiger 28, Aldino's first pass to Desmond Nokes fell incomplete. Then, Aldino connected a pass to Issac Knowles in for a 71-yard touchdown. The Kleparek kick was good, and just like that, DeKalb held a 14-0 lead, with 4:27 left in the first.
The Tigers held the Wildcats to a three and out on their next possession, but on the punt Knowles muffed the return and Livingston recovered at the DeKalb 34. The Wildcats would drive down to the 13 as the quarter came to a close, then, on a fourth and six, Livingston went for it. The pass play fell incomplete and DeKalb took over on downs.
DeKalb wasted no time as they took possession. On the second play of the drive, Aldino threw a bomb to Knowles, who took it all the way down to the Livingston 39. Two plays later, Aldino's pass to Nokes gave the Tigers a first and goal from the 10. Just three plays later, a keeper up the middle was good for six. With the extra point, DeKalb's lead grew to 21-0, with 8:02 left in the half.
Once again the Tiger's D-line held tough as the Wildcats were held to a three and out on their next possession, with the punt giving DeKalb the ball back at their own 28. From there, the Tigers would mount another clock eating long drive. A couple of keeps, a pass to Nokes, and a hard run by Nathaniel Crook had the Tigers down to midfield. Then, a beautiful Aldino pass to Travante Alexander had DeKalb once again at the 10-yard line. Three tries for the end zone only netted six yards, and on fourth down the Tigers went for the field goal. Kleparek's kick was good, and with 28 seconds left in the half, the Tigers had a 24-0 shutout.
DeKalb started their second half possession with the ball at their own 15, but they quickly drove down the field. They would push down to the Livingston 39, but then a pass to Knowles was fumbled and recovered by the Wildcats at the 28.
Livingston looked to have some momentum with the turnover, and moved the ball down to the Tiger 40, but then, after a sack backed them up six, a Cowgill pass was intercepted by Nokes, downed at the Wildcat 29.
It was all Aldino on the Tigers drive. A keeper was good to the 14, then another took them down to the 11. The next play saw Aldino push his way into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and with 3:33 left in the third quarter, DeKalb commanded a 31-0 lead.
It only got worse for the Wildcats. Starting at their own 33, they pushed to the 44, then a pass was intercepted by Silas Cross, down at the DeKalb 44. A bad snap backed the Tigers up to the 38 on the next play, then a laser pass to Knowles was good to the Livingston 41 as the quarter came to an end.
On the next play, Desmond Nokes never broke his stride as he caught an Aldino pass, taking all the way in for the touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Tigers held a 38-0 lead with 11:51 left in the game.
The game looked to be well in hand for DeKalb, with the mercy rule now being applied, but then Livingston showed why you never give up. In a span of just 24 seconds, the Wildcats would put 14 points on the board, and once again put a stop to the clock.
Livingston's next possession looked to be doomed. Facing third and 12 from their own 33, a pass play from Raven Carpenter to Jayden Lawrence went for a 66-yard touchdown. With 8:02 left in the game, the Wildcats were on the board, 38-7.
Next, Livingston had a successful onside kick, recovering the ball at their own 49. From there, a Cowgill pass to Lawrence was good for a touchdown with 7:43 left on the clock. With the extra point, the Wildcats cut the lead, 38-14.
DeKalb recovered another onside attempt, at their own 45, but would go three and out, netting just eight yards on the drive.
Livingston started off in good position, at their own 46, but just two plays later a Cowgill pass was intercepted by Aldino, taking it down to the Wildcat 34. From there, it looked as if the Tigers would add to their tally. On third and eight, an Aldino pass to Alexander was good in the end zone, but a holding penalty negated the score. Backed up, DeKalb would have to punt.
Livingston had one more chance at the ball, but once again the D-line stepped up. Starting at their own 20, two passes went incomplete, then a QB sack pushed them back five more. The Wildcats would punt with 1:46 left in the game and never see the ball again. DeKalb held on for the 38-14 homecoming victory.
"This was a huge win as far as region standings go," Head Coach Steve Trapp said after the game. "This puts us at the forefront right now. We've got a couple of region games left, but as far as what this one meant, homecoming to me is taking care of home."
"The message to our guys this week was to be grateful for what the community pours out during homecoming. It may have been a little bit different this year, but it was a great week. What the cheerleaders did for these guys, what the parents did for these guys, what the school did for these guys this week, I just told them they had a huge responsibility to pay it back. These guys did a terrific job tonight."
The Tigers are now 4-3 on the season, and 2-0 in the region. Livingston drops to 5-2 on the season, and 2-1 in the region. DeKalb is tied with Macon County in region play.
The Tigers travel to Smith County next Friday to take on the Owls.
