There was a lot at stake last Friday night as the DeKalb County High School Tigers traveled to Upperman for the annual “Battle of Center Hill.” Not only was the unofficial trophy of “The Oar” up for grabs in the border rivalry, but second place in the regional standings. Through miscues and mistakes the Tigers would end up leaving at least 12 points on the field, with the game being decided in overtime.

DeKalb would receive to start the game, and right off the bat it would be tough running for the Tigers’ star running back Colby Barnes. Starting from the 31, Barnes would carry for one yard, then a Malachi Trapp carry was good to the 50. Barnes would get another one-yard gain, then quarterback Jordan Parker would take a sack back at the DeKalb 46. Malachi would then be tripped up back at the 41 and the Tigers would have to punt.

The Bees would start their first possession at their own 22, and from there move down field to the DeKalb 41. There the drive would stall and they would punt themselves.

The punt had the Tigers backed up to their own 14, where the first mistake of the night would cost DeKalb. A pass to Malachi Trapp was caught, then fumbled with Upperman recovering at the DeKalb 18. A keeper by Bees QB Jonathon Rushing ended in a sack at the 19, then a carry by Terrence Dedmon was good to the 16. Dedmon was handed the ball again, breaking two tackles before running into the end zone. With the extra point, Upperman took the first lead 7-0 with 2:51 left in the first quarter.

Holden Trapp would return the kick to the DeKalb 23, and it looked as if the Tigers would make a quick strike. A Barnes run was good to the 25, then Malachi Trapp was handed the ball. He ran all the way down to the Upperman nine, where a defender caught up to him. Malachi reached out for a stiff arm, but then lost the ball with the Bees recovering. What looked to be a sure touchdown, ended in a turn over.

The DeKalb D-line would step up. After a delay penalty backed Upperman up to their own four, an Ethan Palk run was good only to the seven. A keeper netted just one yard, then a pass to Jaxson Bush fell incomplete. The Bees would punt.

The ball would roll dead at the Tiger 48, where again the Tigers couldn’t get things going. Barnes would gain one yard, then, as the second quarter began, a pass to Malachi was deflected at the line. Parker would then connect a pass to John Ellis who ran it down to the Upperman 27, but an illegal man down field call negated the play.  Another pass to Ellis would be stopped at the DeKalb 49, and DeKalb would again have to punt.

Upperman would return to their own 13, where finally DeKalb would have a bit of luck. On a keeper, Rushing would fumble with Josh May falling on the ball at the 15. There, Barnes would be stuffed at the line, then a muffed handoff to Barnes ended in no gain. Parker then eyed Josh May, and connected a pass for a touchdown. With Juan Ortega’s extra point, the Tigers tied the game 7-7 with 8:28 left in the second.

The Tigers had opportunities in the game that they would not be able to convert into points. The Bees would start at their own 30, where a pass was intercepted by Tyler Estes to the 24. There, a reverse to Barnes then to Malachi Trapp was downed at the 20, then a Barnes run was good to the 16. Another Barnes carry was stopped at the line, then, on fourth down, a John Ellis run was good only to the 15. A holding penalty was declined and the Bees took over on downs.

Upperman would only gain nine yards on their possession, and being deep in their own end of the field would be forced to punt. DeKalb would next start at their own 46, and would begin to move down the field. A Barnes run was good for four, then a pass to Malachi was good to the Bees’ 42. Barnes would finally break loose for a big run, down to the 29, then a pass to Malachi was incomplete but with a pass interference call on Upperman. The Tigers were set up at the Bees’ 15.

With time ticking down on the half, a Barnes carry was good to the 10, then another to the six. He would lose a yard on the next carry, and facing a fourth down and with time about to expire DeKalb set up for a field goal. The snap was on the ground, ending with Ortega falling on the ball as the half ended. Three more points left on the field.

Upperman would have good field position as the second half began. The return would give them the ball at the 50, and from there they would again take the lead. A Terrance Dedmon run was good to the 33, then a sack would back them up one yard. A Ja’lyric Cullom carry gained two yards to the 32, then a pass to Bush was good to the 29. Facing a fourth down, Upperman went for it. A pass to Branson Turnbow fell incomplete but a pass interference call on DeKalb gave them new life.

Starting at the 15, a Dedmon carry was good to the 13, then another was back at the 14. A pass play was almost intercepted by Josh May, and facing fourth down, Upperman set up for a field goal. The kick was up and good. The Bees led 10-7 with 7:00 left in the third.

The Tigers would answer on their next drive. DeKalb would return to the 27, but a hold would back them up at the 17. There, Barnes would lose a yard, then a pass to Ellis was good to the 48. Barnes would again break loose up the sideline for a run to the Bees’ 18, then another carry was good to the 16. A Parker keeper was downed at the 13, then an incomplete pass to Malachi set up a fourth and five at the 13. Ortega was out for the field goal try, and the kick was up and through. DeKalb had again tied the game 10-10.

Upperman would be held to a three and out on their next possession, only reaching their 34, and on the punt Malachi Trapp would return to the DeKalb 49.  There, a Barnes run was stuffed, then a pass to a wide open Malachi Trapp was dropped. Parker then threw to Holden Trapp who drew a pass interference penalty by the Bees at the 36. Barnes would carry to the 27, then a Malachi run was good up the side line to the 21. Another Malachi carry was stopped at the 11, where the drive would stall.

As the fourth quarter began, a Barnes carry was stopped for no gain, then another netted only one yard. A pass to Holden Trapp was broken up at the two and facing fourth down, the Tigers went for the field goal and the lead. Ortega’s kick was up and the ball hit the upright. No good.

Each team would have another possession, but neither would put points on the board. Upperman would have the ball as regulation expired and the game went into overtime.

Each team would have a chance to score starting from the opponent’s 10 yard line. DeKalb won the toss, electing to receive the ball last.

As Upperman began overtime play, a pass to Bush was good to the 10, then a Dedmon run was in for the touchdown. The extra point was good and the Bees led 17-10.

It was the Tigers’ turn. On the first play a pass to Malachi Trapp was good in the end zone. DeKalb was one point away from tying the game and sending it to another overtime, but with the kicking game suspect, Head Coach Steve Trapp made the hard decision to go for two. It would be all or nothing. Parker’s pass to John Ellis would fall one-foot short in the end zone, giving the Bees the 17-16 win.

With second place now out of reach in the region, the Tigers will have to compete for either third or fourth place. They travel to Goodpasture (5-3) next Friday, October 21.

The Class 4A Region 4 Overall Records and Region Standings are Macon County: 7-1 (3-1), Stone Memorial: 7-1 (3-1), Upperman: 6-2 (3-1), DeKalb County: 6-2 (2-2), Cumberland County: 1-7 (1-3), and
Livingston Academy: 0-8 (0-4).