Tigers Devastate Lions at Homecoming
by Chris Tramel

Border rivalries can get contentious. The battle between two neighboring communities or counties have always taken on a little extra meaning when it comes to sports, usually coinciding with some ribbing and fun at the expense of the opposing team. But the game against Cannon County last week took an ugly turn, even before the players took the field.

It began with a sign being prominently displayed on the visiting team’s bleachers which read, “If you get divorced in DeKalb, are you still brother and sister?” The banner stayed for a little bit before school officials made them take it down. One could understand an apparent tasteless comment by the student body, but at the same time a video was circulating of the Cannon Athletics Director leading a pep rally, spouting how much he hates DeKalb County.

The director announced how he hates DeKalb’s sidewalks, their locker rooms, their bleachers, and the fans in the bleachers. “I hate everything about DeKalb,” he announced amidst cheers from the students. There is a difference between team spirit and bad taste as you poke at the other team, but this seemed to take it to another level.

Some have said that this is a traditional speech held at the pep rally every year before their meeting with the Tigers, but there is also a tradition at DeKalb County when playing Cannon … beating the pants off of the Lions. DeKalb leads the series 32-5-1 all time, with Cannon last winning in Smithville in 2007. In fact, Cannon has only won two games at DCHS since 1967, and the Tigers were poised to maul the Lions once again last Friday night.

It was Homecoming Night and the stands were packed on a beautiful evening. DeKalb won the toss and chose to defer until the second half. The Lions started at their own 28, and a run by Ryan Perkins gave them a first down at the 40 right off the bat. There the drive would flounder however, with a couple of keeps and a run only getting to their own 48. On a fourth and two the Lions went for it and a Perkins run was caught at the line giving the Tigers the ball.

With regular quarterback Briz Trapp still suffering from a shoulder issue, once again wide receiver Isaac “Kid Dynamite” Knowles took over duties at the line. A keep saw Knowles down at the Lion’s 29, but like Cannon their drive would also stall. On a fourth and seven at the 26, the Tigers went for it, but a pass to Colby Barnes fell incomplete.

Cannon’s next possession was doomed by penalties. A carry by Perkins gained one yard, but then a false start backed them up five. A pass to Kolby Miller was incomplete, then another false start backed them up five more. Another pass play failed and the Lions were forced to punt.

This time the Tigers looked to put points on the board. Aided by a block in the back on Cannon, the Tigers began at the Lions’ 40. A pass to Nathaniel Crook resulted in no gain, then a Crook run was good to the 27. Crook ran to the 18 on the next play but a hold put the ball back at the 30. There, Knowles called his own number and was down at the 0ne. Another keep was good for six. With the extra point by Axel Aranda, the Tigers were up 7-0 with 3:25 left in the first.

The Lions would return the kickoff to the 32, but wouldn’t get much out of it from there. With some carries and keeps they managed to get to the 49 before having to punt.

Again, DeKalb looked to put points on the board. As the second quarter began, the Tigers began at their own nine. A Barnes run was good to the 19, then another was good to the 28. Barnes carried again to the 39, then a Knowles keep was good to the 47. A Knowles pass to Isaiah Harrington was tipped incomplete, then a Barnes run was good to the Cannon 47. There, a beautiful deep pass by Knowles connected with John Ellis in for the touchdown. The extra point was good and with 8:29 left in the half DeKalb took a 14-0 lead.

The Tigers had the momentum and the Lions next drive went nowhere. Starting at their own 25, they would only reach the 31 before having to punt. It wouldn’t take long for DeKalb to go up by three scores.

After a bad punt that went out of bounds at the Cannon 40, a Knowles keep was good to the 30. From there, a Crook carry was down at the 23, then another keep was good to the 16. There, Crook took it to the eight, then another was up the middle for six. With the Aranda PAT, the Tigers commanded a 21-0 lead with 3:41 left in the half.

The Lions would decide to get into the game on their next possession. The return took the ball to the Cannon 48, then a Dallas Roller run was good for one yard. A Perkins run lost three yards, but on the next play, another carry by Roller, they were in the end zone. The extra point was good, and with 2:55 left in the half the Lions were on the board, 21-7. It would turn out to be the only points the Lions would see.

It didn’t take long for DeKalb to answer. Following an onside kick attempt, Ty Webb returned the ball to the cannon 35. There, a Barnes run was good to the 15, then a keeper was good to the 1. Another Knowles keep was good for the touchdown. With Aranda’s PAT, the Tigers were up 28-7 with 2:10 left in the half.

The Lions couldn’t seem to get out of their own way on the next possession. Starting at their own 31, a Perkins run was good to the 34, then a Harrison Carr run was fumbled with the Tigers falling on the ball at the 33.

A high snap resulted in a Knowles sack back at the 36, then a pass to Nolan Gottlied fell incomplete. On a third and 15, Knowles again took to the air, completing a pass to Holden Trapp in the end zone. With the extra point, DeKalb took a 35-7 lead with 36 seconds left in the half.

As the second half began, the Mercy Rule went into play. The clock ran continuously. Cannon would start at their own 24, but would only reach the 42 before having to punt yet again.

DeKalb would begin at their own 23, and would once again mount a scoring drive. Crook was handed the ball three times, moving to the Cannon 38, then a keep was good to the 27. It would be Crook again, taking the ball to the 17, then into the end zone for six. The extra point made the score 49-7 at the end of three.

Cannon would only get one more possession, and with the Mercy Rule going time was running out. They would only reach their own 47 before having to punt.

DeKalb would get the ball on their own 25, and keeping to the ground the rest of the game would watch the clock tick down to victory. DeKalb took the 49-7 win.

 “I’m really proud of our guys,” Head Coach Steve Trapp said after the game. “They played well. They played hard. They practiced hard all week. They didn’t get distracted with other things that were going on at homecoming. It’s been an awesome week all the way around. It’s been one of the more fun and memorable homecomings we’ve had since I’ve been here as a coach.”

With the win, the Tigers are 3-2 on the season (1-1 Region) with Livingston Academy next on Thursday night at 7:00. The game will be played at Tennessee Tech a day early, due to Livingston’s field being worked on.

The Region standings are currently as follows:

Macon County 5-1 (2-0)
Upperman 5-1 (2-0)
Stone Memorial 4-2 (1-1)
DeKalb County 3-2 (1-1)
Cumberland County 3-3 (0-2)
Livingston Academy 0-6 (0-2)