Each season, Homecoming is a special time of the year for both students and alumni. The festivities are one of a kind and hopefully the home team can pull out a victory. This season was no exception for the DeKalb County Tigers.
Staying focused, the Tigers have begun the season with a 4-0 record by defeating the White County Warriors 20-10 Friday night at Van Hooser Stadium in Smithville. The 2011 Tiger football team is now the third team in DCHS history to start the season 4-0.
The Tigers had a hard time getting there and at times had their hands full, but when the Tigers needed a big play, someone stepped up and made one.
On the Tigers’ first drive, running back Sebastian Phillips was the workhorse, leading the Tigers to the Warriors’ 25-yard line. Setting up a 42-yard field goal attempt that was missed by senior  Zach Taylor.
The Warriors took over on their own 20-yard line. With their first drive of the night, the Warriors held on to the ball for nine plays. However, with a big stop by Tiger defenders Lane Ball and Jason Judkins, the Warriors were forced to punt after gaining only 24-yards during the drive.
DeKalb's next drive did not go so well, as they had to punt after just  three plays. Zach Taylor's punt put the ball on the Warriors’ 20-yard line.
The Warriors' offense moved the ball forward only to be pushed back by the Tigers' defense. Led by junior DT's Matt Boss and Gage Brown, the Tiger defense stood firm and did not allow the Warriors to move the football, forcing a punt.
Following a 6-yard run by Sebastian Phillips to end the first quarter, teammate and brother QB Lucas Phillips scooted 49 yards to hit pay dirt and put the Tigers on the board. Zach Taylor's PAT was good, and with 11:47 remaining in the second quarter, the Tigers led 7-0.
Not to be outdone, the Warriors offense put together a nice 13-play, 74-yard scoring drive, tying the game 7-7.
On the ensuing drive, the Tigers fumbled the football when QB L. Phillips tried to make a hand-off to RB Dylan Freeney. The Warriors pounced on the ball on the Tigers 21-yard line. With their backs against the wall, the Tigers' defense did not break by not allowing the Warriors to score a touchdown inside the red zone. However, the Warriors made a 34-yard field goal and took the lead 7-10.
The Warriors led for a total of 17 seconds, as the ensuing kick-off saw DeKalb's kick returner, Will Molander take the football and race 79-yards for the special teams score. Taylor's PAT was good, and with 2:55 remaining in the second quarter, The Tiger squad reclaimed the lead 14-10.
White County started their next drive from their own 8-yard line after a block-in-the-back penalty on the kick-off return. The offense of the Warriors spurted and was forced to punt yet again.
The Tigers took possession of the football on the 23-yard line of the Warriors. With three seconds left in the first half, Taylor's leg proved to be god yet again when his 36-yard field goal sailed through the up-rights. At the intermission, the Tigers led the Warriors 17-10.
White County began the third quarter on their own 24-yard line. After two big plays by LB Sebastian Phillips and a nice tackle by junior cornerback Chris Chapman, the Warriors were set to punt the football away on fourth down. However, the snap sailed over the Warrior punter's head and was downed at the Warrior 6-yard line.
With a first and goal, the Tiger offense began to self-destruct. The tigers had three consecutive flags followed by three incomplete pass attempts that had them facing a fourth down on the 15-yard line. Tiger kicker Zach Taylor trotted onto the field and then failed a 32-yard field goal to extend the Tiger lead to 20-10 with 9:42 remaining in the third quarter.
The two teams traded possessions five times in the remainder of the game with big plays coming from the Tiger defense.
The Tiger offense did not help themselves in the second half. Dropped passes, missed blocks, and yellow flags made for long third and fourth quarters for the Tigers. However, the Tigers held on for the victory, outlasting the Warriors 20-10.
The Tigers play the Smith County Owls Friday night in Carthage at 7:00 p.m. Come out and support your hometown team during this huge district matchup. TIGER PRIDE!