It was homecoming at DeKalb County High School last Friday evening, and the Tigers celebrated by getting a shutout against the Cannon County Lions. After suffering a loss in a sloppy game last week, the Tigers came out fired up and fighting. While the game was a big victory in front of a packed hometown crowd, the game also saw triumph and tragedy in other ways.
DeKalb would get the ball first, with their first drive looking like the lingering effects of the White County game were hanging with the team. An incomplete pass, a holding penalty, and a quarterback sack backed the tigers up and forced them to punt.
But the Tigers’ defense came out and was ready to play, forcing a three-and-out and a punt. The Tigers’ next offensive drive proved they were back to their winning ways with a series of passes to Aaron Patterson and runs by Luke Boss. The Tigers would push their way to the Lions’ two-yard line, where Boss would be handed the ball and get the first points of the game. With the extra point by Matthew Poss, the Tigers were up, 7-0 with 3:54 left in the first quarter.
The DeKalb D would again come out on the field and force another punt, and Dustin Warner would set the Tigers up by returning it to the Lions’ 39-yard line. From there, QB keepers by Steven Jennings, and pass receptions by Devonta Milan, would take the Tigers to the Lions’ five-yard line. The next play, a pass to Lane Ball was good for a touchdown. A low kick for the point after was no good, but DeKalb had a 13-0 lead with 10:36 left in the half.
Again, the Tigers’ D was stifling, and Cannon County went three-and-out. The Tigers’ next possession would take them down to the Lions’ seven-yard line where the drive would stall. Then, a little trickery by the Tigers backfired, when on a fourth and 10 from the 13-yard line, a fake three-point try ended in and interception.
The interception fired up Cannon County and the Lions were able to convert a fourth down and drive to midfield. Facing another fourth down from the 41-yard line, the Lions tried a little trickery of their own. A fake punt ended with an incomplete pass and the Tigers took over on downs.
The Tigers looked to give the death blow to the Lions, taking the ball from the 41 to Cannon’s 23, but a sack on Jennings followed by an incomplete pass to Patterson in the end zone, stalled the drive. The next play, Jennings threw another pass to Patterson, but it was intercepted by Cannon County’s Wilder Mankin.
With under two minutes left in the half, DeKalb’s defense would come out on the field and looked to have a three-and-out, but on the punt the ball was touched and the Lions were able to recover on the DeKalb 35. The Lions would drive down to the 23 as the final seconds of the half inched near, and hoping to put points on the board, elected for a field goal try. The kick was up, but no good, with the Lions remaining scoreless, 13-0.
The Lions would get the ball to start the second half, but the Tigers’ D continued to dominate. Facing a fourth and two from the 47-yard line, the Lions went for it, but the play went for no gain and the Tigers took over on downs. Two plays later, the Tigers’ Milan ran right, then reversed and ran in for a touchdown. With a failed extra point, the score was Tigers 19, Lions 0.
On the Lions’ next possession things got ugly. An unsportsmanlike penalty against DeKalb put the Lions with a first and 10 on their own 44, but a holding call against the Lions, along with a grounding call, put the Lions back first and 25 at the 29. The next play a pass was intercepted by Patterson at the Lions’ 45-yard line.
The Tigers would take advantage, with Milan running to the nine-yard line, then a run by A.J. Mooneyham taking it to the three. The next play it was Mooneyham again, in for the touchdown with 4:09 left in the third. With Poss’ extra point good, the Tigers lead increased, 26-0.
The Lions’ next possession was marred by a holding penalty and the Tigers’ D once again forced a punt. The return by Warner once again set up points, taking the ball down to Cannon’s 23. The next play, Jennings threw a long pass to Patterson into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point was blocked, but the damage had been done. The Tigers lead 32-0.
Cannon County could not move the ball against the Tigers’ defense, and DeKalb would top the score off as they started the fourth quarter. With some hard runs by Milan, the Tigers would drive down to the 11-yard line. There, facing a fourth and four, Milan was handed the ball again and he was into the end zone. The Tigers would increase their lead to 39-0.
The woes for Cannon continued for the rest of the game, and the DeKalb defense continued to play hard. It was at this point in the game that Dillion Williams number was called. Williams had been injured in a shooting accident last year and lost his right leg. Williams, a senior, continued to workout with the Tigers throughout the year in the hopes of getting some playing time, and he got his chance during the homecoming shutout.
The game was not without a loss as well after junior linebacker Lance Ball suffered a season ending ankle injury.
"Our defense played well," Head Coach Steve Trapp said after the game. "We figured they’d want to run the ball after our performance with White County, and that’s what they showed on tape too. They tried to get the ball in 24’s (B.J. Daniel) hand. He’s a bruising running back and they wanted to use him, and did a good job with it. Our defense was up to the task."
"I told them at halftime, ‘We’ve got to be more physical.’ So we came out and were dedicated to running the football. Devonta had a big second half, our offensive line did a great job up front, and ultimately took over the game."
When asked about Williams getting to play during the second half, Coach Trapp told the Review, "It sent chill bumps just seeing him get back out on the field and get those plays in. He’s an outstanding young man and resilient, and from what he’s been through, and for him to come back and get on the field, it was a great moment for him and our program."
The Tigers had 252 yards rushing for the night, with Devonta Milan having 10 carries for 159 yards, and Luke Boss with nine rushes for 55 yards. Jayce Allen would get seven carries for 25 yards.
In receiving, Aaron Patterson would have four receptions for 76 yards, while Devonta Milan would have three receptions for 42 yards.
QB Jennings would pass 10 of 13, with one interception, two touchdowns, and a sack.
The Tigers’ D also had a good night, holding the Cannon offense to less than 100 yards in the game.
The Tigers are now 4-1 as they go into a bye week. They will be back on the home field Oct. 4 when they take on Trousdale County.