The DeKalb County Tigers wanted a win last week. In fact, they needed a win. After dropping all three home games so far this season, DeKalb's only victory was on the road against Stone Memorial. Last week they were on the road again, this time traveling to Grundy County to take on the Yellow Jackets.
Grundy won the toss and elected to receive to start the game. The kickoff was returned to the 35, where the Yellow Jackets looked to move downfield. After three downs, Grundy faced a fourth and long one from the 44, but a quarterback keep kept the drive alive down to midfield. Two plays later a passing play set them up at the DeKalb 40, where the next play saw the runner tackled for a three-yard loss. After an incomplete pass play, a fumbled handoff was then recovered by DeKalb's Isaiah Harrington back at the 48.
DeKalb would make Grundy pay for the turnover, and in just seven plays the Tigers would strike. A third down handoff to Colby Barnes had the Tigers down to the 30, then another Barnes run was good to the 24. After a holding penalty backed them up to the 36, and an incomplete pass play, Quarterback Axel Aldino connected a pass to Isaac Knowles in the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point kick by Jasper Kleparek was good and the Tigers were up 7-0 with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
The Yellow Jackets' next possession began back at their own 31, where a keeper and a run would take them up to the 42. Then, a holding penalty, then a false start, would back them up to the 33. The Tigers would then get a big third down sack, back at the 19, forcing Grundy to punt.
The Tigers looked to be sitting pretty with the ball at midfield, but the drive would be doomed. A sack backed them up to the 35, then a delay of game backed them up five more. DeKalb would manage to get the ball back up to the Grundy 48, but would be forced to punt.
That's when punter Travante Alexander kicked the ball and backed Grundy up to their own one and half yard line. The Tigers' defense was fired up, and on the snap caught Yellow Jacket QB Jacob Dixon in the end zone for a safety. With 8:44 left in the first half, DeKalb was up, 9-0.
With the safety, Grundy County had to drop kick the ball right back to DeKalb, and Desmond Nokes returned the ball to the Yellow Jacket 32. With good field position, the Tigers wasted no time adding to the scoreboard. Barnes was handed the ball three times, pushing the Tigers down to the four yard line. Then, a handoff to Nokes was in for six points. Kleparek's extra point kick was through the uprights, and DeKalb's lead was 16-0 with 7:06 left in the first half.
The kickoff set Grundy County up back at their own 19, but they would actually lose two yards before again being forced to punt.
The Tigers seemed to smell blood on their next drive, and quickly went to work. Staring at the Grundy 40, a coupe of Aldino keeps, and three runs by Nathaniel Crook gave DeKalb a first and goal from the eight. Then, a pass to Nokes was good for a touchdown. With the extra point, the Tigers' lead grew to 23-0 with 2:45 left in the first half.
It only got worse for the Yellow Jackets. On the kickoff, Grundy would start at their own 19. Then, a running play was stopped for a loss back at the 14. The next play, a snap over Dixon's head went into the end zone. Dixon tried to recover but was caught for another safety with 2:24 left in the first half. DeKalb was up 25-0.
Another drop kick to the Tigers resulted in Knowles returning to the Yellow Jacket 39, then a Knowles catch had them down to the 30. After an off sides penalty, then a pass to Nokes and run by Barnes, DeKalb was at the Grundy 18, where a pass to Alexander was caught in the end zone for six. The extra point was good and with 1:02 left in the first half, DeKalb's sporting a 32-0 shutout.
The Yellow Jackets threatened to score on their first possession of the second half. After being forced to punt, another Alexander kick backed Grundy up to their own two yard line. From there, they would drive all the way down to the DeKalb 11 yard line, where the drive would stall. Looking to avoid the shutout, the Yellow Jackets went for a field goal, but the kick was no good.
That would be the last gasp for Grundy County. DeKalb would for the most part stick to the running game, running down the clock. The Yellow Jackets would get an interception off of a DeKalb fourth and 28 play, but a fumble on the next play would give it right back to the Tigers. In the end, DeKalb would hold on to take the 32-0 shutout.
"A lot of good elements out there," Head Coach Steve Trapp said after the game. "Our defense had two safeties, and both of those were set up by excellent punts. Great job punting tonight. Our defense was flying around, and only gave up one or two plays."
"I thought offensively we did a lot of good things. A lot of positives tonight. It's really good to have one of these games. Every game we've played so far has been nail biters. It feels good to get one of these tonight."
The 2-3 Tigers will next travel to Cannon County to face the 0-5 Lions.
