Riding a high off a season opening domination of their week one opponent, the Saints traveled to Gladeville last Thursday in a non-conference matchup, looking force its will again on the Wildcats.  Although for most of the game, the Saints defense played well, but two big plays played a large part in sealing Saints demise.

The Saints opened the game on offense, putting together a 7-play drive before being forced to punt to the Wildcats.  On Gladeville’s first play from scrimmage, the Wildcats stunned the Saints, bursting free for a 73-yard rushing touchdown to put the Wildcats on the board quickly, 6-0.

Then the Saints’ defense seemed to settle down for the rest of the half, once stopping the Wildcats on the 8-yard line, and two times forcing punts.  Although quarterback Jesse Foutch and running back Cecil Ketchum ran hard, the Saints just could not find a rhythm on offense.

That would change in the second half.

After the Saints forced another Gladeville three and out, Foutch and Ketchum drove the Saints down to the 18-yard line.  Running back JT Summers then broke free on an 18-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 6. Foutch would convert the two-point conversion and with 3:07 left in the third, the Saints took the lead, 8-6.

Gladeville would answer on the ensuing drive with a passing touchdown on fourth down to retake the lead 12-8 with 21 seconds left in the quarter.

Then the Saints fortunes seemed to turn as they methodically marched down the field on a five-play scoring drive that saw running back JT Summers score again from 18 yards out.  Jesse Foutch came through again on the conversion attempt and with 5:59 left in the game, the Saints held a 16-12 lead.

The Saints recovered a fumble on the kickoff and DeKalb looked to put the game away, but flags and a stiffening Wildcat defense stalled them out on the Gladeville 31-yard line with 2:35 left.

The Saints defense bowed its’ neck and looked like they would put the Wildcats to bed, however with just 35 seconds left, Gladeville again broke free on a massive 61 yard run on fourth down, down to the 10-yard line.  Another costly Saints penalty put the ball on the 5-yard line, and with just 7 seconds left on the clock, the Wildcats scored to retake the lead, 18-16.

Foutch and the Saints would not concede however, as Foutch completed a bomb to wideout, Kiece Hannah on a 45-yard pass play that ended just 4 yards short of the endzone as time expired, handing the Saints a heartbreaking loss, 18-16.

With the loss, the Saints fall to 1-1 on the season, but come home Thursday night to face Smith County on Homecoming.