The DeKalb County High School football team made history Friday night in Celina with a 65-0 victory over the Clay County Bulldogs. The win ranks as the largest margin of victory in school history, as well as the most points scored by a Tiger squad.
Early on the Tigers’ timing was off a bit. However, the Tigers settled down then overpowered the Bulldogs, scoring on offense, defense, and special teams. The Tigers showed a knack for putting the football in the end zone. Playing fast and  aggressively, DeKalb’s defense allowed only three first downs in the contest, two of which came on Tiger penalties.
The Tiger offense rolled once again compiling 594 total yards. Senior quarterback Lucas Phillips directed his team to seven touchdown-ending drives, four of those coming by way of Phillips’ right arm.
Phillips went 12 of 20 for 155 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Phillips threw the football very well, connecting with seven different receivers. Wide receiver Sonnie Fullilove grabbed four receptions for 72 yards with two touchdowns. Cody Puckett also had four catches, but had 43 yards with one score. Will Molander, Jacob Parsley, Chris Chapman, Ben Driver, and Lance Ball each had one reception. Ball’s 5-yard catch was his second touchdown of the young season.
On the ground sophomore Divonta Milan led all rushers with 93 yards on just five carries with two touchdowns. Freshman A.J. Mooneyham had three carries for 58 yards, while scoring his first touchdown in high school. Senior tailback Chris Chapman had eight carries for 47 yards and one touchdown. Phillips added 33 yards on two carries. Molander had eight yards also with two carries, and Quinton Johnson had one carry for three yards.
Tiger return-man Will Molander had a good night on special teams, as he had five returns for 194 yards and one touchdown.
The barrage of scoring began at the 8:38 mark in the first quarter, as Phillips hit a wide-open Puckett in the end zone, giving the Tigers the lead.
After some nice defensive plays, including a fumble recovery on the Bulldogs’ 27-yard line by Tiger defensive lineman Caleb Cantrell, a tackle-for-loss by Eli Gill and Spencer Stanfield, and a sack by Chapman, the Tigers were able to help overcome some offensive woes on the Tigers’ second and third possession of the game.
At this point, the Tigers’ offense began to crank it up, scoring on their next eight possessions. With 10:01 remaining in the second quarter, Phillips connected on a 5-yard touchdown pass to Lance Ball, giving the Tigers a 13-0 lead. The point-after-try was missed by Tiger kicker Ben Driver.
Just 3:23 later, the Tigers hit pay dirt again, this time with Chapman plunging over the goal line for a 4-yard touchdown run. The P.A.T. by Driver was good, giving the Tigers a 20-0 lead.
DeKalb’s next score came on defense, when safety Chris Chapman and linebacker Rickey Spare drilled the Clay County quarterback, knocking the ball loose, which in turn rolled out the back of the Bulldogs’ end zone, giving the Tigers a safety, resulting in 2 points.
With 4:36 remaining in the first half, the Tigers led 22-0.
On the ensuing kick-off, Molander sliced his way to the end zone for the special team’s score, extending the Tiger lead to 29.
Three offensive plays later, senior wide-out Sonnie Fullilove caught a 21-yard pass from Phillips to give the Tigers a commanding lead at 36-0, with only 35 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Tigers began the third quarter with the football, and DeKalb’s offense marched down the field with relative ease, capped by a 14-yard drive touchdown pass to Fullilove. The Driver P.A.T. was good.
After a sack by linebacker Sam Giles and cornerback Jacob Parsley forced yet another punt for the Bulldogs, the Tigers regained possession of the football.
Leading 43-0, Head Coach Steve Trapp put some of the reserves in on offense and just three plays later running back Divonta Milan bounced to the right of the formation and exploded 61 yards to the end zone. Drivers’ P.A.T. was good, and with 11:47 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Tigers led 50-0.
On the Bulldogs’ next offensive possession, Tiger defensive lineman Hunter Stone recovered a Bulldog fumble on Clay County’s 15-yard line.
Four plays later, running back Milan powered his way into the end zone for his second score of the night.
The night’s most exciting play came on the P.A.T. when holder Aaron Patterson lost his grip on the ball, then scrambled as he found an open Driver, who then raced his way into the end zone for the 2-point-conversion, giving the Tigers a 58-0 lead.
The Tigers’ final score of the night came with a 34-yard gallop by freshman A.J. Mooneyham with only 41 seconds remaining in the game, giving the Tigers a score of 65-0.
The Tigers play again Friday night, traveling to Cannon County, to take on their rival Lions.  See you there. TIGER PRIDE!!!