The York Institute Dragons defeated the DeKalb County Tigers in Jamestown Friday night in a wet and wild 19-13 game. The loss brought DeKalb’s district record to 1-2, and puts the team at 2-5 for the season.
The Dragons, still seething from the 34-0 loss the Tigers handed them last season, held DCHS QB Steven Jennings to 129 yards passing, and only allowed him to hit 14 of the 32 throws he attempted. There was no score in the first quarter of the game, as the two teams slipped and slid across the rain-soaked field, with both sides having trouble maintaining control of the pigskin.
While the DeKalb defense held the line in the first quarter, forcing the Dragons to punt twice and give up the ball on three fumbles, the Tigers also gave the ball up twice on fumbles. Dragon QB Caleb Probst finally got loose for a 76-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to get the Dragons on the scoreboard first, and a good EP put the score at 7-0 with 8:54 on the clock.
Jennings was sacked on fourth down on the Tigers next possession, and the Dragons took the ball back at the Tiger’s 21-yard line. York jumped on the opportunity to score, and a four-yard touchdown run by E.J. Wright five plays later put the Dragons up 13-0 with 4:52 on the clock. The EP attempt failed.
An 80-yard drive culminating in a 31-yard strike from Jennings to Aaron Patterson put the Tigers across the goal line for the first time with 2:27 left in the first half, and a failed EP brought the tally to 13-6, with the Dragons leading at half time.
The two teams fought on the slippery field with no score in the third until York’s Ethan Probst took a seven-yard run into the end zone with 6:28 left on the clock. While the Tigers blocked the EP, the Dragons extended their lead to 19-6.
The Tigers struck again with 1:06 left in the game, with Jennings carrying the ball on a four-yard run into the end zone. A good EP by Matthew Poss brought the final score to 19-13.
Aasron Patterson led the Tigers on the ground with 81 yards rushing, and 46 yards receiving. Luke Boss rushed for 44 yards, Jonathan Munoz caught the ball for 36 yards, AJ Mooneyham for 19, Austin Brown for 18, Luke Boss for 8 and Dalton Halfman for 4.
Lance and Lane Ball led the defensive effort with seven tackles each. Hunter Stone and Jacob Washer both had 4 tackles, and Joe Pack, AJ Mooneyham and Aaron Patterson brought down three Dragons. Joey Moon and Luke Boss and Joey Moon had two tackles each, while Jonathan Munoz, Taylor Lee, Christian Pruitt and Eli Cross all added one tackle to the books.
The Tigers will return to Vanhooser Stadium to face Macon County this week. Kickoff is set for Friday at 7 p.m. A tailgate party hosted by Lite Rock 95.9, 106.9 Kicks Country, and Rock 93.7 will be held in the DCHS parking lot from 5-7 p.m. on the night of the game. There will be free school spirit signs for the first 300 fans, as well as games, prizes, fun, food, and live broadcasts on the radio stations.
