As the DCHS football team enjoys the time off that the bye-week allows for, we have the opportunity to take a look at how the Tiger team arrived at 9-0 for the season.
Out of the gate, the Tigers stunned an overly confident Warren County Pioneers team 50-0. In what was a prelude to what was to come for the season, the Tigers’ offense showed balance in both the passing and the rushing games. Sophomore Divonta Milan burst onto the scene, scoring on a 28-yard run.
With 195 yards and three scores on the ground, along with 206 yards in the air, the Tigers’ offense had the Pioneers’ defense on their heels all night long.
Allowing a total of 42 yards for the game, the Tigers’ defense began a scoreless streak of three games and gave Head Coach Steve Trapp his first shut-out victory of his coaching career.
Traveling to Celina, the Tigers took on the Clay County Bulldogs in a lopsided DeKalb 65-0 victory. The win broke two DCHS football program records, one for most points scored by the Tigers and the other for largest margin of victory.
The Tigers’ defense dominated, as they forced the Bulldogs’ offense to a total of negative 38 yards for the game. Tiger wide-out Sonni Fullilove led all receivers with four receptions, accounting for 72 yards, while scoring two touchdowns.
Milan had five carries for 93 yards with two scores, leading a potent Tiger ground game that totaled 242 yards. Senior Chris Chapman carried the ball eight times for 47 yards and one touchdown, while freshman A.J. Mooneyham added 58 yards and scored his first touchdown of his high-school career.
Senior return-man Will Molander had a huge night, accumulating 194 yards on five returns with one touchdown to help propel the Tigers to the victory.
Week three saw the Tigers taking their 2-0 record to Woodbury to take on district foe, the Cannon County Lions.
With big plays by Tiger defenders Rickey Spare, Cody Puckett, Eli Gill and Spencer Stanfield, DeKalb once again dominated the flow of the game.
Cannon County’s offense had negative 56 yards which marked the second time in three games that the Tigers’ defense forced negative yards.
Milan broke the century mark with 115 yards on 10 carries before being injured. Chapman added 71 yards on six carries and one touchdown. Senior receiver Jacob Parsley had two receptions for 70 yards and scored his first touchdown as a Tiger.
Sophomore tight end Lance Ball scored a touchdown inside the red-zone for the third consecutive game with a 2-yard grab.
The Tigers wrapped up a three-game road trip with a 58-7 thumping to White County. Senior quarterback Lucas Phillips broke a DCHS single-game record, throwing for seven touchdowns.
Tigers’ Will Molander exploded for 227 total yards, with four touchdown receptions to lead DeKalb’s big-play offense.
DeKalb’s defense surrendered 91 yards to the Warriors’ offense, while allowing the first points of the year.
With a 4-0 record, the Tigers hosted district 8-AA nemesis Smith County at VanHooser Stadium in Smithville. In what is perhaps the greatest home victory in DCHS history, the Tigers thrilled a huge crowd with a rare 32-13 victory over the Smith County Owls. The last time the Tigers beat the Owls was the ’95 season, and the last home victory over the Owls was the ’81 season.
Milan’s punt return for a touchdown was the game-changing play for the Tigers, giving DeKalb the belief that this was their time.
DeKalb’s defense surrendered a modest 167 yards to the Owls in the win.
The week six 42-13 win over Hixson, saw Homecoming week and as the Class of ‘92 celebrated their 20th reunion, the Tigers celebrated a 5-0 record. Senior Kaylee Cantrell was named the 2012 Homecoming Queen.
Once the game started, the Hixson Wildcats jumped out to take a quick start, but DeKalb’s passing attack overwhelmed the visiting team. Phillips went 17 of 24 for 336 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Phillips also added 103 yards on the ground.
Fullilove led the Tiger receivers with seven catches for 138 yards and three scored. Molander pitched in, grabbing four receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown. Molander also had a 95-yard kick-off return for a score in the Tigers’ win. Cornerback Jason Judkins had two huge fumble recoveries, killing two drives by the Wildcats.
In week seven, the Tigers hosted an undefeated York Institute Dragon’s team.
Raking up 316 yards of offense, the Dragons backed the Tigers in to a corner but as with each game prior to this one, DeKalb was able to wear down their opponent late in the game, winning 47-19.
The Tigers’ offense exploded for 591 yards on just 37 plays. Will Molander caught seven passes for 230 yards with three touchdowns. Phillips passed for over 300 yards for the third time on the season with 320 yards.
With DeKalb’s last regular season home game, the Tigers had their lowest offensive out-put with 392 total yards.