As the DeKalb County Tigers’ football team hosted their second playoff game in as many seasons at John L. VanHooser Stadium, the Tigers also set two more milestones. With the 39-21 victory over the Sequoyah Chiefs Friday night, the Tigers enjoyed their first ever home playoff win and now have 10 wins in one season, for the first time in the program’s history.
The Tiger offense once again rolled as they racked up 589 yard of total offense. The Tigers rushing attack found a groove as DeKalb ran the football 44 times for 305 yards.
The Tigers wasted little time as they hit pay-dirt on their first possession when senior running back Chris Chapman banged his way across the goal line on a 1-yard run. Ben Driver’s kick was good giving the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.
A 24-yard touchdown reception by Austin Lunsford from quarterback Brett King put the Chiefs on the board with only 5:25 remaining in the first quarter.
After the blocked extra-point-attempt by Conner Apple, the Tigers were still on top 7-6.
With 10:30 remaining in the second quarter, Tiger wide-out Sonni Fullilove scored his first of two on the night with a 27-yard pass from quarterback Lucas Phillips. Ben Driver’s kick was not good, making the score 13-6 in favor of the Tigers.
DeKalb scored once more during the second quarter when Phillips called his own number, scrambling 18 yards to the end zone to extend the Tiger lead to 19-6.
With their second possession of the second half, the Tigers extended their lead when Phillips connected with Fullilove on a perfectly thrown 43-yard pass and, as the clock hit the 5:30 mark of the third, Fullilove crossed the goal line for his second touchdown of the game.
On the Chiefs’ ensuing possession, Sequoyah scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass from King to Rueben Abernathy. With the good point-after-try by the Chiefs, the Tigers still led 25-13.
After an interception by DeKalb’s Alex Hayes, the Tigers padded their lead when tight end Cody Puckett sliced through the Chiefs’ defense for a 38-yard touchdown reception from Phillips that gave the Tigers a huge 32-13 lead.
After a three-and-out series by the Chief’s offense gave the ball back to the Tigers on their own 26-yard line, DeKalb’s Chris Chapman ran into the end zone on an 11-yard run. Driver’s kick was good, and at the 7:30 mark of the fourth quarter, the Tigers led 39-13.
The last score of the game came at the eight-second mark of the fourth quarter when Sequoyah’s Garrett Dalton broke open and caught a 23-yard pass from King to slice into the Tiger lead. The two-point-conversion attempt was good for the Chiefs, making the score 39-21.
The Tigers will travel to Livingston to take on the Wildcats Friday night in the second round of the TSSAA State playoffs. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.
TIGER PRIDE!!!