In the USA, this summer has been one of the hottest on record. Texas has been dealing with greater than 100-degree temperatures for 36 days and counting. The heat here in DeKalb County has not been that extreme, but it has been hot enough to have an impact on the DCHS football team.
The Tigers were scheduled to begin practice in full pads on Monday. With only four days to prepare for the Gordonsville scrimmage, Coach Steve Trapp had little time to fine tune his squad.
When the heat was so hot that it forced DeKalb County School Superintendent Mark Willoughby to cancel all outdoor activities for two days, Coach Trapp's football team went indoors.
“Trying to hit at full speed in the gym and simulate game situations is a little difficult, to say the least,” Coach Trapp stated.
So, when the Gordonsville High School football team came to Smithville on Friday night, the black and gold of DeKalb County needed to be clicking on all cylinders while playing against a team that is predicted to win their district and are currently ranked in the Top 10 in the state.
The Gordonsville team started the game with the football. There were no kick-offs, so Gordonsville started with the ball on their own 30-yard line. After running the football on the first two plays, they gained 13 yards and a first down.
On the third play of the game, the black and gold defense gave up a big play, a 57-yard touchdown pass. The point after try was good.
Trailing by seven points, the Black and Gold offense came onto the field for the first time and went three plays without gaining the first down. With their second possession, the Gordonsville Tigers ran the ball pretty well against the DeKalb defense. The drive ended with a one yard run for Gordonsville's second score of the game. The PAT was good.
DeKalb's second possession ended with the hometown Tigers punting the football after just three plays.
Gordonsville started their third drive with very good field position. Starting on their own 43, Gordonsville was able to run the football off tackle, gaining good yardage. Capping the drive with a 17 yard touchdown run, the visiting Tigers looked to be in total control.
The Black and Gold defense was on their heels, not knowing what was coming next. Gordonsville ran the ball very effectively against the DeKalb football squad, up to that point. “We had some miscommunication out there with our defense on the first three drives,” Trapp said. “Coach Bernie was able to correct it, and the players were able to be in the right position after that,” Trapp added.
Indeed the DCHS team seemed to come alive at that point, sparked by Will Molander's 30-yard reception for DeKalb's first fresh set of downs in the contest.
The Black and Gold drove down the field against the bigger Gordonsville squad, ending with a fourth and goal from the one yard line. DeKalb's Dylan Freeney swept around the right side to score the first touchdown of the game. The PAT by Zach Taylor was good.
With DeKalb trailing 21-7, Gordonsville started their fourth possession on their own 30-yard line. Coach Bernie's adjustments worked, as the DeKalb defense came up big with a fumble recovery on the Gordonsville 30-yard line.
Wide receiver, Zach Thompson, started the drive with a nice 12-yard reception, followed by an 8-yard catch by Jason Judkins. On the second down, Coach Trapp called a quarterback draw with Lucas Phillips running down to the 4-yard line with a first and goal. On first down, Sebastian Phillips, ran the ball for three yards to the 1-yard line.
After a quarterback sneak and no gain on the second down, DeKalb's Cody Puckett ran around the left side and lost three yards. On the fourth down, DeKalb needed a break, and they got one. The Black and Gold came up short on fourth and goal, but Gordonsville was penalized for a personal foul, giving DeKalb one more play.
DeKalb's offense took advantage of the visitors mistake. Lucas Phillips rolled out to his right and connected with Judkins for the score from four yards out. The PAT by Taylor was no good. DeKalb trailed 21-13.
Starting on their own 30-yard line once again, the Gordonsville Tigers seemed to be self-destructing, as their running back fumbled yet again. In great field position, the Black and Gold team gained a little momentum.
The hometown team drove the football all the way down to the 11-yard line. With a first and ten from the 11-yard line, DeKalb looked to tie the game with a score and a two-point conversion. However, on the fourth down, with seven yards to go for the first down, Lucas Phillips' pass was caught but was three yards short of the first down. DeKalb turned the ball over on downs.
With two fumbles on consecutive plays, the Gordonsville team was looking to bounce back with a solid rive. After only four run plays and a nicely timed tight-end hot pass that gained 35 yards, the Tigers from Gordonsville found themselves with the third down on the 8-yard line. Gordonsville ran straight up the middle and right into the end zone for the eight-yard touchdown. The PAT was good. Gordonsville lead with a score of 28-13.
DeKalb's offense came out and was determined to move the football. In the second play of the series, wide receiver, Zach Taylor, made a very nice catch and ran for 40-yards, down to Gordonsville's 30-yard line. In the next play, Lucas Phillips connected again for a 15-yard completion.
With a first down on the 15-yard line, DeKalb's quarter back, Lucas Phillips, was sacked for a 5-yard loss.
On second down and 15 yards needed for the first down, Lucas Phillips again scrambled around as the defensive line got a big push. Phillips ran for three yards to his left as wide receiver, Zach Taylor, made the biggest hit of the night, as he drilled the defender, sending his helmet off and flying into the air.
On third down, Lucas Phillips just missed an open receiver in the end zone. For the third time DCHS faced a fourth down, inside of the Gordonsville 20-yard line, once again coming up a little short.
The football was placed on the 30 for Gordonsville. In the first down, DeKalb's defense sacked the QB for a loss of 12 yards. One of the games biggest plays came with the second down. Gordonsville connected for an 82-yard touchdown pass that had everyone in Black and Gold wondering where the yellow flag was. As the wide receiver ran down the sideline, with the defender at his side, the football was in the air. The defender was pushed to the ground, leaving the receiver wide open and able to score as no one could catch him. The PAT was missed, making the score 34-13, in favor of the Gordonsville Tigers.
At that point, both teams began to substitute players. Freshman Aaron Patterson come in at QB and played well. Another freshman, Luke Boss came in at running back. Boss ran very hard and caught a short pass, turning out to be a long gain with his ability to read his blocks correctly.
DeKalb hopes that the weather will allow them the opportunity to practice outside all week, as they prepare for the Jamboree game in Watertown on Saturday night. DeKalb is slated to play Watertown at 7:00 pm.
Tigers warm up against Gordonsville
Season opener against Warren next Friday night

