There is a running joke around the newspaper that every year that the DeKalb County Tigers beat the York Institute Dragons, the media headlines would read, "Tigers slay Dragons." Looking back at old issues, you’ll find this to be true. The metaphor has been used many, many times, but this year we wanted to try something new and fresh. Of course the Tigers would have to beat York for us to use our clever movie-inspired headline, and this year they did not disappoint.
After suffering a come-from-behind loss last week to the top-ranked 2A team in the state, the DCHS Tigers opened up on the Dragons, dominating on both sides of the ball. The performance wowed the crowds on Senior Night, giving fans a shutout on the last home game of the season.
DeKalb got the ball first in the match, and right away Quarterback Steven Jennings opened up the passing game. Starting from their own 35, Jennings spread the ball around with passes to Aaron Patterson, A.J. Mooneyham, and Lane Ball, driving down to the Dragons’ 23-yard line. There the drive stalled after an incomplete pass on third down, and another on fourth, turned the ball over on downs.
The Tigers’ defense came out meaning business and held York to a three-and-out on their first possession, and the ensuing punt led to DeKalb getting the ball back at the Dragons’ 25-yard line. This time the Tigers would take advantage of their field position, and a Jennings pass to Patterson would set them up with a first and goal on the six-yard line. The next play, another pass to Patterson, was in the end zone and good for six. With the extra point by Kicker Matthew Poss, DeKalb was up 7-0 with 3:24 left in the first quarter.
Things would only get worse for the Dragons. During the kickoff, York’s Ty Bingham fumbled, and was recovered by Jorge Blanco at the Dragons’ 30. DeKalb looked to cash in on the turnover and drove down to the 17-yard line, but an illegal shift penalty, then an interception by York’s Lance Crockett gave the ball back to the Dragons.
As the second quarter began, the momentum looked to have shifted towards York with a six-play drive, taking the Dragons down to DeKalb’s 44. Then, on a quarterback keeper, York’s Mason Cravens fumbled, giving the ball back to DeKalb.
On the Tigers’ next drive DeKalb could not move the ball, and York returned the punt to their own 39. The Dragons would then mount a drive that would take them down to the Tigers’ 23, threatening to put up their first points of the game. There, faced with a fourth and four York would be backed up by a false start penalty, then, electing to go for it, would turn the ball over on downs with an incomplete pass.
Taking over at their own 28, QB Jennings opened up an air assault, throwing to three different receivers. Completed passes to Patterson, Dustin Warner, and Jonathon Munoz moved the Tigers down to the York five-yard line. Then, after an illegal shift penalty moved the ball back to the ten, Jennings tossed it into the end zone to Warner for the touchdown. With the extra point, the Tigers took a 14-0 lead into the half.
At the beginning of the second half York would get the ball and would drive to midfield. But the DeKalb D was stingy and would force a punt, giving the ball back to the Tigers’ offense at their own 17. Again, the passing game would rule the drive, and twelve plays later Jennings would find Patterson in the end zone for six. Poss’ extra point was good and the Tigers commanded a 21-0 lead with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
York would get the ball at their own 45 on their next possession, and again would drive down into Tigers’ territory. The drive would stall at the 30-yard line however, and after a sack placed them with a fourth and 11 on the 31 they elected to go for it. The pass to York’s Zach Reed was bobbled then dropped incomplete, and the Tigers took over on downs.
For the first time in the game the Tigers opened up the running game, and starting from the DeKalb 31, runs by Luke Boss took the Tigers to midfield. As the third quarter began, a pass to Munoz set the Tigers up at the York 40, where the ball was handed to Devonta Milan. Milan would then break lose, taking the ball all the way in for a touchdown. Poss’ extra point gave the Tigers a 28-0 lead with 9:48 left in the game.
With insult added to injury, on the kickoff the Dragons would fumble the return and DeKalb would recover on the York 34-yard line. On the legs of Boss and Mooneyham the Tigers drove down to the Dragons’ nine, where incomplete passes stalled the drive. Facing fourth and goal from the nine, Poss was brought in for a field goal attempt. The kick was up and good for three, increasing DeKalb’s lead to 31-0.
The Dragons would go three-and-out on their next possession, and the Tigers would take possession of the ball at their own 39. The drive would be all Boss, as he ran the ball on five carries down to the York six-yard line. There, facing a fourth and four from the six, Poss was again brought out. The field goal was good, giving the Tigers their final points of the night, 34-0 with 2:02 left in the game.
York would get the ball and attempt to avoid the shutout, but the DeKalb D would hold, giving the Tigers their final home victory of the season.
After the game, Coach Steve Trapp told the Review he was proud of the effort his team showed during the game. "Anytime the defense performs like that, and the other team doesn’t score, and you can put some points on the board offensively, it makes for a pretty good night. I’m just proud of our guys, the way they prepared all week on both sides of the ball. It was not too bad of a performance tonight."
When asked about the team’s upcoming game against Macon County Coach Trapp said, "It’s just another typical work week. We’ll watch films and see what they do. It’s all in the preparation. The last couple of weeks our guys have really bought in to that part of it. That’s a sign of an inexperienced team getting experience. It’s understanding that it’s more than just coming out on Friday night and playing, but preparing Monday through Thursday."
The Tigers’ remaining scheduled games are all district road games and Coach Trapp said his team will be prepared. "They’re all very important. They’ll get you a step closer to playoffs and then potentially home playoff games, and that’s something we’d love to achieve."