The 2012 DCHS football team kept rolling with a 58-7 dismantling of the White County Warriors in Sparta on Friday night. Senior Tigers’ Quarterback Lucas Phillips had a career day, as he went 19 of 29 for 330 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception.
With the seven touchdown passes, Phillips is now the DCHS single-game record holder.
Tiger wide receiver Wil Molander also had a big night, grabbing eight catches for 200 yards with four touchdowns.
Although the Tigers’ offense produced big numbers by the end of the game, the Tigers had a slow start. The Warriors held the Tigers out of the end zone until the 5:38 mark of the first quarter. Phillips connected with wide-out Sonnie Fullilove on a 26-yard pass. Senior kicker Ben Driver’s PAT was good, and DeKalb took the lead 7-0.
The Tigers’ defense, once again, had play-makers flying all over the field.
On a third-down-and-nine play, Tigers’ defensive end Cody Puckett intercepted a pass, and then returned it 35 yards for the pick-six. Driver’s PAT was no good, and at the 4:06 mark in the second quarter, the Tigers extended their lead to 13-0.
On the Warriors’ next offensive possession, the team from Sparta did what no other team has been able to accomplish against the Tigers’ defense, which is score a touchdown.
On the second play of the drive, Warrior running back Kane Tollison got to the corner and outran the Tigers’ defense to the end zone. The PAT was good. With only 3:08 left in the second quarter, the Warriors made it a game, with the score of 13-7.
Feeling a sense of urgency, the Tiger offense put together a nice 6-play, 94-yard drive that was capped with a Phillips’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Molander. The Tiger two-point conversion attempt was no good. However, DeKalb padded their lead with the score at 19-7.
On the ensuing kick-off, the Warrior kick returner dropped the football and Tiger Sam Giles pounced on it, giving the ball back to the Tigers on theWarriors’ 33-yard line.
Three plays later, DeKalb was in the end zone when Phillips hit a wide-open Fullilove for the second time of the night. With only one minute remaining in the first half, the Tigers pulled ahead 25-7.
The Tigers took the kick-off to open the second half and quickly scored once again. On the third play of the drive, Phillips connected once again with Molander, this time on a 32-yard touchdown toss. Just 44 seconds into the third quarter, the Tigers upped their lead 31-7.
After an interception by DeKalb’s Chris Chapman that put the Tigers on the Warriors’ 27-yard line, the Tigers’ offense would hit pay dirt once again. Tiger quarterback Lucas Phillips found an open Molander, who then raced 26 yards to the end zone. The two-point conversion was no good by DeKalb, but the Tigers extended their lead to 37-7.
One week after scoring his first high-school touchdown, senior wide receiver Jacob Parsley caught another one. At the 4:29 mark of the fourth quarter, Phillips hit Parsley for a four-yard scoring strike. The PAT by Driver was good and DeKalb led 44-7.
After a four-and-out drive by the Warriors, the Tigers took possession of the ball, and five plays later Phillips hooked up with Molander for the score for the fourth time in the game. With 8:59 remaining in the game, Phillips connected with Molander on a 40-yard touchdown. Driver’s PAT upped the score to 51-7.
DeKalb’s final score of the night came with just 4:18 remaining in the game when freshman running back A.J. Mooneyham ran for a 15-yard touchdown. With the PAT good from the foot of Driver, the final score was 58-7.
The Tigers will host Smith County Friday night for their 500th game. It is a critical district match-up at VanHooser Stadium. Come out and support your team.
TIGER PRIDE!