The DeKalb County High School football team improved to 7-1 with a 31-25 victory against Macon County on Friday night.
Spoiling the Macon County Tigers' Homecoming, DeKalb County won on a last possession drive that will be remembered for years to come.
With only 1:22 remaining in the contest, Macon County took the lead after a successful 2-point conversion attempt, by making the score 25-24.
After the extremely loud and ruckus celebration by the home team, DeKalb junior quarterback Lucas Phillips calmly led his team on a 5-play 64 yard scoring drive that left the Macon County fans stunned.
DeKalb County Tigers' wide receivers Will Molander and Zach Taylor made big times catches during the drive. After a 3-yard run by running back Dylan Freeney that took the football to the Macon County 22-yard line, DeKalb was content to try a field goal to win the game.
So, QB Lucas Phillips took the snap and ran to the left side, putting the ball in the center of the field. However, there was a false start on DeKalb pushing the ball back to the 22-yard line.
On the next play, Phillips again took the ball to the left side. He burst through the line of scrimmage, putting his moves on the Macon County defenders. Phillips then pulled his way through a tackle to power his way to the end zone for the dramatic victory.
Macon County got on the score board first when QB Dallas Grace pushed his way across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Macon County Tigers an early lead 7-0.
The DeKalb County Tigers responded with a scoring drive of their own, tying the game at 7 apiece with 5:39 remaining in the first quarter.
QB Lucas Phillips called his own number then weaved his way through the defense for a 5-yard touchdown run.
Macon County's offense was hitting on all cylinders, as they moved the football with relative ease. Scoring yet again on a 7-play drive that was capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Grace to Jacob Salyer with 3:17 remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kick-off, DeKalb County return man Zach Taylor took the football 91 yards for the score.
With the game tied at 14, DeKalb's defense settled down and did not allow Macon County to score again in the first half.
Driving deep inside DeKalb's territory, Macon County's QB Dallas Grace threw an interception. DCHS's cornerback Alex Hayes stepped in front of the Grace pass and returned the ball to the Macon County 42-yard line. Four plays later, DeKalb's running back Dylan Freeney took a handoff and sliced his way into the end zone, putting the Tiger team on top with a score of 21-14, that stood until halftime.
With only 0:50 remaining in the third quarter, Macon County scored first on a 29-yard field goal that pulled Macon within four points, with a score of 21-17.
On the ensuing drive, DeKalb quickly moved the ball inside the 5-yard line with a long pass completion from Phillips to Molander.
After a penalty and a sack, DeKalb County was forced to settle for a field goal. However, the Black and Gold extended their lead to 24-17, with only 10:47 remaining in the game.
DeKalb's defense held the Macon County Tigers to a three-and-out. After the punt, DCHS started their next drive on their own 37-yard line. Looking to seal the game, the Black and Gold moved the ball down to the Macon County 27-yard line, just after five plays.
However, on the sixth play of the drive, D.C. running back Chris Chapman fumbled the ball, and a Macon County defender pounced on it.
At the M.C. 20-yard line, with renewed life, Macon's offense marched down the field and scored on the 11th play of the drive, when DeKalb forced a fumble inside the DeKalb 5-yard line, but the ball bounced into the end zone. Macon County's Tyler Manning jumped on the ball for the touchdown.
After a timeout by Macon County, their coaching staff decided to go for two and take the lead. Macon's QB Dallas Grace found an open Jacob Salyer for the 2-point conversion that put them on top with a score of 25-24 with only 1:22 remaining in the game, setting up the winning drive for the DeKalb County Tigers.
The Smithville Review congratulated The DCHS Tigers on their exciting victory and spoke to Head Coach Steve Trapp regarding the game.
Review: This game was an emotional victory and one that ranks among DCHS' best. What are your feelings about the game?
Trapp: There was so much emotion behind it because Macon County is a very quality opponent. You can't really look at their record and see what kind of football team they are. They have a really tough schedule and play some tough teams. What makes it so emotional is how they took care of us at home last year on Senior Night and the implications of it. It was big for the playoffs. We are both 4-A teams, so it can really elevate our standings in the playoffs and push them down. It was a four-quarter football game. It was something that we talked about to our team, all week. It was an “edge of your seat” kind of game. And then with a 1:22 left, you have to drive the ball down the field and make the play, and it worked out for us. There was a lot of hard work, dedication, commitment, and perseverance put into the game on everyone's behalf. When you get rewarded the way we did in the end, it is very emotional.
Review: Your defense allowed Macon County to move the football effectively on their first two drives, and they resulted in touchdowns. After that, the defense settled down. What was the difference?
Trapp: Coach Bernie tweaked it a little bit in our defensive interior line. He put Eli Gill and Jake Odom in a position that Macon didn't really know where we were going to go. Prior to that, we had them lined up in the gaps, and Macon County had a good idea about where we would be. It makes it a little easier offensively to call your plays and execute your blocking scheme if the defense is lined up in the gaps. So, tweaking the interior a little bit and then our edge players, with Cody Puckett and Rickey Spare made a difference. We were really aggressive the first two drives, but with that type of offense, if you aren't perfect in your technique when you are that aggressive, they can and did find some creases. Our guys picked up on the changes real well and they made some big plays defensively. They got some stops and even gave up a few things, but that is the type of football game that we expected to be in. We have talked to the players about it all week; they knew they would have to play for four quarters. They were expected to be a physical football team and responded well. We ultimately were rewarded with a victory.
Review: What can you take from this non-district win and apply to the rest of the season?
Trapp: Ultimately, we are capable of doing the things that we want to do. You work hard through the week to prepare to face any opponent. I feel and our team feels confident that if we work our hardest through the week to get ready and get prepared, that we can compete with anyone. Our offense is more balanced than it has ever been. Our defense has played an aggressive and technique style. We have so many options with this group. Our personnel and the kids we have deserve credit, because they pick up on so much that we are trying and want to do. They go out there and play their hardest. It was just a great win. I think these guys felt something special after that win that was different from any game they have played this year. We told them that there are even better “feelings” out there for them if they want to achieve them. I think they are really confident, and they should be. They just have to make sure that they show up each and every day like they have been and continue to work to finish out the season strong.
Review: Your team is just that, a team. There seems to be togetherness, a comradery with your players and coaches that I have not seen in a long time.
Trapp: Ultimately, that is what you have to have. There is not one individual, coach or player that is any more important than anyone else. As the season progresses, they have realized that more and more. That has really been the message since January. We are all in this together. If everyone takes care of their job, then we are pretty solid. No person or team is perfect. Mistakes are still made, but these guys really bought into our philosophy of “take one play at a time” attitude and mentality, emotional effort and emotional attitude. It has truly been about attitude. It takes this kind of attitude to be a successful football player and team when you are on the field and as a human being as well. I am really proud of our guys and what they have accomplished up to this point, how they have supported each other, what they have done for the community, and how the community has supported us. We just have to keep our focus and our attitude where it needs to be to finish on top.
Review: Each week, someone seems to step up offensively. This week it was Lucas Phillips. On defense, Alex Hayes' interception was a huge turning point for the team. What are your thoughts?
Trapp: Definitely. Last year this was Lucas' second start of his high school career. We really had high hopes for him to have a good throwing game against Macon County. He really wanted this game to prove himself, after last year's performance. He wanted to prove that he could do what we asked of him. We worked on a lot offensively this week, but once the game got started, we really found what we liked. Lucas was comfortable throwing the football, and that is really what we needed to do this week. I think he really did a good job with that. We had a couple of dropped balls that would have made his stats better, but it really isn't about the stats. I thought our receivers did a better job this week understanding when to sit down in those windows and when they need to run through them. I have talked to them all week about how our passing game has not hit a level, to where it needs to be. With the players that we have, we should have a better vertical passing game, than what we have seen this season. We have seen some plays, but it hasn't been consistent. First play of the game, we vertically hit it. We hit a few verticals down field. I am really proud of what Lucas accomplished, and I am really proud of his receivers working hard for him. Ultimately, Lucas couldn't do any of that without his offensive line protecting him upfront. And then, Hayes has been a pleasant surprise all year for us. Again, he gets an interception at a real critical point in the game, which really turned our momentum around. Alex is one of those guys that came in as a freshman and wasn't the biggest, fastest, or most athletic, but he has a work ethic like you wouldn't believe and he has worked himself into a quality high school football player.
Review: Speaking of your offensive line, they seem to dominate the line of scrimmage. How would you rate their performance this week?
Trapp: It was one of the better games that they have had, pass protection wise and with the running game. I think we had 233 passing and 187 rushing, so that is great statistically. Last year, that was why our offense couldn't do anything, because Macon County won the line of scrimmage battle on both sides of the ball. Coach Clarence took that personally, and he has been chewing on that for about a year. I could see, during practice this week, they had some “shade tree” sessions. That is where he gets the guys together and lets them know, “Hey, we have to buckle down and get after it.” I give all of the credit to Coach Clarence for getting those guys mentality where it needs to be and getting their execution where it needs to be. That group really did control and allow us to do what we need to do.
Review: After a few weeks on the road, your team will host Upperman this Friday. What do you expect from Upperman? How will it feel to be back home?
Trapp: It is going to be great to be at home. We haven't been home in a month, and I don't know if there are any other high school teams with takes four weeks in a row on the road. I am the one in charge of making the schedule, and that really isn't how I wanted it to work out, but with the new playoff system it was really hard to make the schedule. Next year, it won't be so bad, because they will have to come here. I tried to break it up but I didn't have many options. It is going to be great to get home. I really hope the fans come out to see us live. It is going to feel great to put on those black uniforms and get in front of our home crowd.
As far as Upperman goes, they are an improved football team from last year. They have playmakers and the ability to move the ball and make plays. We are really going to have to be disciplined and hone in on what formations they are in and understand what plays they are trying to run.
It is going to be a big ball game. It is going to be challenging, as always. We are going to have to have our ultimate focus on Upperman this week.
The DeKalb County High School Tiger football team hosts Upperman at VanHooser Stadium on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Come out and support your hometown Tiger squad.
TIGER PRIDE!