The DeKalb County High School Tigers football team came away with a huge win last Friday night after they traveled to Woodbury to take on the Cannon County Lions. The team nearly had a shutout against their longtime rivals, but one Tiger came away with a statistical milestone during the game.
Running back Colby Barnes would come away with 28 rushes for 242 yards during the game, putting him with 135 rushes for 1,010 yards rushing so far for the season, averaging 7.5 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns. The powerhouse runner would have a big night in Woodbury with five of the team’s eight rushing touchdowns.
The game was a disaster for the Lions from the start. They would receive to start the game, starting at their own 24, when on the first play, a lateral was fumbled and DeKalb’s Holden Trapp falling on the ball at the Cannon 11. Two plays later, Barnes walked in with his first touchdown of the night. With 10:37 left in the first, DeKalb was up 7-0.
The Lions started their next possession at their own 27 and would only make the 31 before being forced to punt.
Malachi Trapp would return the ball to the Cannon 47, where once again it was all Barnes. He ran up the sideline to the 20 on the first play, then was in for another touchdown on the next. The Tigers would be stopped a half yard short for a two-point attempt, but with 7:42 left in the first, DeKalb led 13-0.
Cannon would get the ball at their own 33, and from there lose yards on the drive. They would punt back at their own 28, with the ball rolling dead at the DeKalb 25.
The next play would end in controversy. A Jordan Parker pass connected with receiver Malachi Trapp, who ran it all the way to the end zone, but officials called not one but two unsportsmanlike taunting calls against Trapp, nullifying the run and kicking Trapp out of not only this game, but also next week’s game.
Once again, Barnes was handed the ball, and he quickly ran it down to the Cannon 10. Another run was good to the four, then a Parker keeper was into the end zone. Barnes would take the ball in for a two-point conversion and just like that DeKalb was up 21-0 with 4:19 left in the first.
On the kickoff, the kick would go out of bounds, giving the Lions the ball at the 35, but it wouldn’t make any difference. On a third and 15 play from the 30, a pass was intercepted by Ty Webb at the Cannon 49. From there, the Tigers would mount yet another scoring drive.
The Tigers would overcome a holding penalty during the drive, and push their way down the field. On a third and goal from the four yard line, Barnes was handed the ball and was again in for six points. Juan Ortega’s extra point was good, and with 7:49 left in the half, DeKalb led 28-0.
DeKalb wasn’t finished scoring. Cannon would start at their own 21 on their next possession and would only reach the 25 before another pass was intercepted, this time by John Ellis. Starting at the 24 yard line, Parker pitched the ball to Holden Trapp down to the 17, then the ball was handed to Barnes who took it in for yet another score. The extra point was good and with 5:20 left in the half, the Tigers led 35-0.
That’s where the score would stay to halftime.
DeKalb would get the ball to start the second half, and would waste no time adding to the scoreboard. With the mercy rule now in effect, the Lions would attempt an onside kick, with Trace Hamilton falling on the ball at the DeKalb 47. From there it was all Barnes.
Barnes took the ball to the Cannon 32, then the 16. Another run was to the 14, then the 11. Barnes then took it to the three, and then was in for a touchdown. Ortega’s PAT was good, and the Tigers led 42-0 with 8:00 left in the third.
Again, the kickoff would go out of bound, giving the Lions the ball at their own 35. It would not matter however, with Cannon reaching only the 42 before facing a fourth down. They would go for it and the keeper was stopped with a sack at the 40.
The Tigers would make them pay. Barnes took DeKalb down to the 28, then a pair of Juan Ortega runs were good to the 23. Ari White was handed the ball next, down to the one, then the one-inch line. His next carry was in for six. With the extra point, DeKalb held a 49-0 lead with 11:24 left to play.
With such a lead, the DeKalb starters were pulled from the game, giving some of the younger players some game time experience. The kickoff gave Cannon the ball at their own 34, and on this drive they would avoid the shutout.
Keeping to the ground, the Lions moved down to the DeKalb three. There, QB Kolby Miller kept the ball himself and was into the end zone. Jack Byford made the PAT and the Lions were on the board with 6:39 left to play.
Cannon would attempt another onside kick, resulting in the Tigers’ Ari White falling on the ball at the Cannon 48. There, QB Jon Hendrix kept the ball to the 45, then an Ortega run was good to the 33. Another Ortega carry was down at the 21, then another Hendrix keep had the ball at the four. Ortega carried for one yard the next play, then again for the touchdown. With just 2:26 left in the game, DeKalb increased their lead, 55-7.
Cannon would get the ball again, but with the clock running it was too little too late. The Tigers took the 55-7 victory.
In addition to Barnes’ stats, Jordan Parker had two rushes for eight yards and a touchdown, Juan Ortega had six rushes for 32 yards and a touchdown, Ari White three rushes for 25 yards and a touchdown, and Jon Hendrix had two rushes for 20 yards.
In receiving, Malachi Trapp had one reception for 74 yards, Josh May two for 21, Holden Trapp two for 11 yards, and John Ellis had one for four yards. Ortega was six for seven on PATs.
The Tigers now move into Homecoming week, with DeKalb hosting Livingston Academy next Friday night.
