The DeKalb County High School Tigers football team has been ramping up practice lately as they prepare for the fast-approaching 2024 season. The team played in two 7 on 7 practices last week and is taking shape.
Head Coach Steve Trapp said the team has been working hard since coming off of the required dead period the last week of June and first week of July. “We actually had two 7 on 7s prior to dead period. Last week we had one in Monterey, and then one at home last Thursday.”
When asked how the team is looking for this season, Coach Trapp is confident. “We’re looking good. We’re working hard. It’s a good group to work with, and they’ve been getting better each day. These 7 on 7s allow us to be athletic and learn our scheme. Hopefully, when the real football starts and we get in pads, we’ll see where our physicality lies. Up to this point, I’m pretty please with how we’ve worked.”
Jordan Parker, a 6’1” 175-pound senior, will be the quarterback this year, but it’s a position he is very familiar with. “He’s been a backup QB ever since he was a freshman, but he has 10 or 11 starts under his belt,” Trapp explained. “His sophomore year, he came in the middle of a game and started the rest of a year, and helped lead our team to the playoffs that year. Last year, as a junior, he played safety and wide receiver, but he also had a start at QB as well. He played very well in that game, so he’s doing well and what we want in that position.”
Coach Trapp said the receiving corps looks strong this season with some experienced players. “We have Ryan Lyons, a starter last year, on the outside on one side, and we’ll have Jon Hendrix on the other side. Lyons is a sophomore, and Hendrix is a junior. Our slot receiver this year will be Andrew Dakas. He’s a senior.”
“We’ll play with a tight end a lot this year and that will be Jarett Hamilton and Wyatt Carter, and at running back we’ll have Cecil Ketchum and Ty Webb. They will be splitting time to keep each other fresh,” Trapp said.
Coach Trapp also sized up his lines, and said they have a little more heft from last year. “Up front we’ll have a few returners. Aiden Turner is back at center, Chris Pulley it will be his third year as a starter for us, Bryson Arnold started last year and is back. Kobe Roller and Cole McMillan are seniors. We have a lot of guys back that have a lot of experience, and I’m feeling good about them.”
“Last year we were a little lean on the line, and we were young, but most of our guys are over 200 pounds this year. Another good thing is that we have a lot of depth. Our starting defensive line, are not any of our starting offensive linemen. They may come in and rotate out certain positions. Victor Locklear is doing a great job on the D-line, while Wyatt Carter and Jarett Hamilton will play in there as well.”
“A lot of our secondary is still intact,” Trapp continued. “Lyons is back there; Hendrix and Webb are there. All those guys were in the secondary last year. The one new guy is Kaleb Gomez, who will be playing the other corner. Adrian Prater will be resuming kicking duties this year. Recruited from the soccer team as a freshman last season, and may take over punting responsibilities as well.”
When asked about district competition, Trapp said it’s a very competitive area. “It’s a tough district. Upperman made it all the way to the state championship game. Until someone proves it otherwise, everyone is going to put them on the top, and rightfully so. Macon was right there in the third round, playing Upperman, so there’s another team. We’ve hung with those guys the last couple of years, but we have just got to limit some of our mistakes.”
“Stone Memorial has been a good opponent the last couple of years, and Livingston has gotten better. Sparta did not lose a whole lot and has a dynamic quarterback. There are five or six really good football teams in this region. It’s a tough district.”
On August 2, the Tigers will play at home in a scrimmage game against York Institute, then will travel to Friendship Christian on August 9. On August 13, the Tigers will have another home scrimmage against Providence Christian, followed by a match against Clay County at the Gordonsville Jamboree on August 16.
The Tigers will open up their regular season on August 23, at home as they host the Warren County Pioneers.
