The DeKalb County High School football team hosted the (7-3) Giles County Bobcats on Friday night at VanHooser Stadium. The contest was the first home play-off game in DCHS football history.
With the stands full and with lots of excitement in the air, the 8-2 Tigers took on a talented Bobcats team in the first round of the TSSAA State Playoffs.
The game was not decided until the final moments, with the Bobcats coming out on top with a score of 35-28.
The Tigers began the game with an 11-play, 77-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 10-yard run by junior wide receiver Will Molander.
The workhorse of the Tiger drive was senior running back Dylan Freeney, having 32 yards on seven carries.
DeKalb's defense stopped the Bobcats on the ensuing Giles County drive at the Tigers' 16-yard line. The Bobcats attempted a field goal, but the kick was low and sailed into the end zone.
The Tiger offense came back onto the field looking to capitalize on the Bobcat's missed field goal. Beginning from the Bobcat's 20-yard line, the Tigers moved down the field to the Giles County 36-yard line. However, the drive stalled there, after a third down run play by Freeney came up short.
The Tigers elected to punt the football. Tigers' punter Zach Taylor pinned the Bobcats deep into their own territory with a perfect punt that put Giles County on the 3-yard line.
Giles County, with their backs against the wall, responded with a 97-yard drive that was capped with a Nieco Walker 1-yard touchdown run that tied the score at seven apiece.
Walker, who had three scores for the Bobcats, finished the night with 82 yards on just 11 carries.
On the ensuing kickoff, Tigers return man Will Molander returned the kick to mid-field, giving DeKalb good field position.
Three plays later, Tiger quarterback Lucas Phillips completed a pass to wide receiver Zach Thompson, who was tackled at the Giles County 4-yard line. However, much to the dismay of the Tiger faithful, the whistle did not blow, and the ball was stripped by Bobcats' Kenton Baker, who then raced 53-yards for the defensive touchdown. This put Giles County ahead with a score of 14-7.
DeKalb's Zach Taylor took the ensuing kick-off and returned the football to the Giles County 37-yard line. After a Molander pass reception that picked up 15 yards, quarterback Lucas Phillips connected with Thompson for a 22-yard touchdown that knotted the score at 14 with just 2:28 remaining in the first half.
The Bobcats' offense returned to the field and was able to drive the ball down the football field despite three penalties by Giles County.
With a first and 27 on the 40-yard line, the Tigers allowed a Bobcat receiver to get behind the defense for a pivotal 39-yard gain to the 1-yard line of DeKalb.
On the next play, Bobcat running back Nieco Walker plunged across the goal line for his second score of the game. The Bobcats took the lead into the half with a score of 21-14.
To begin the second half, the Bobcats received the kickoff but could only muster one first down on the drive. The Bobcats were forced to punt the ball away for the first time in the ballgame.
The Tigers took possession of the ball at their own 18-yard line. After a 14-play, 82-yard drive, Lucas Phillips passed to Zach Taylor for a 6-yard touchdown. The Tiger touchdown tied the score at 21 with only 1:43 remaining in the third quarter.
On their ensuing drive, the Bobcats responded with a big play on third down and three. Kenton Baker ran past the DeKalb defense as quarterback Al Cobb connected with him for a 42-yard touchdown pass.
With the score, the Bobcats once again pulled ahead of the Tigers with a score of 28-21.
The two teams traded punts on their next possession, however, when the Bobcats punted to the Tigers, DeKalb return man Will Molander took the football to the Giles County 19-yard line.
After a Dylan Freeney 18-yard run, that gave the Tigers a first and goal on the 1-yard line, quarterback Lucas Phillips rumbled his way  across the goal line for the score.
With 10:33 remaining in the game, the Tigers pulled even with the Bobcats with a score of 28 apiece.
On the ensuing Bobcat drive, DeKalbs' defense forced Giles County into yet another third down. However, the Tiger defense gave up another big play to the Bobcats' offense.
On third down and eight, the Tigers allowed a 47-yard run that took the football to the DeKalb County 3-yard line. The next play saw Bobcats' Walker put the team from Pulaski ahead for good with a 3-yard touchdown run with only 8:36 remaining in the game.
Not ready to give up, the Tigers offense came out fired up and ready to move the football. The Tigers started on their own 24-yard line and drove down the field to the Bobcats' 17-yard line.
On first down, quarterback Lucas Phillips scrambled and got the football knocked loose, fumbling the football on the Bobcats' 13-yard line.
Giles County took possession of the football and ran some time off the clock. The Bobcat drive stalled, and they were forced to punt.
With just over two minutes remaining, the Tigers began their drive on their own 2-yard line, but they were unable to move the ball. The Tigers chances ended with a fourth- down sack.
The game ended as the Bobcats' offense was lined up in the victory formation, as the buzzer sounded.
The 35-28 loss ended the season for the Tigers.