The battle between the Tigers of DeKalb County and the Purple Tigers of Watertown has always been contentious. The border-rival teams have been in combat with each other for years, but playing Watertown on their home turf has always been especially tough. The last time DeKalb came away with a win at Watertown was 2008, but that was all about to change last Friday night.

It was homecoming for the Purple Tigers, but DeKalb wanted to play spoiler to the school’s celebration. DeKalb had come away with a win over Watertown the previous year, 26-14, but that was on DCHS ground. This game was at Watertown in front of a big hometown crowd.

The first quarter would be fight with both sides making mistakes and failing to convert third downs. Each team would have two possessions resulting in punts, before play would get even more sloppy.

DeKalb would punt, giving Watertown the ball at their own 48. There, a run gained four yards, then another was one-yard short. On a third and one, Watertown would fumble with Andrew Dakas recovering at the DeKalb 21.

The good fortune didn’t last long however, with a Briz Trapp pass intercepted by Watertwon at the 31.

Watertown would go three and out, then as the second quarter began, DeKalb looked like it might finally be moving the ball. A pass to Jordan Parker was good to the 40, and later a pass to Marquez Chalfant, back from the injured list, was down to the Watertown 41. A Trapp keep was good to the 27, and that is where the drive would fall apart. Trapp was sacked back at 36, then after a couple of incompletes, a flag for too many in the huddle backed them up with a fourth and 24 from the 41. The Tigers would punt.

This time Watertown was ready to strike. Starting at their own 20, A Bret Price keeper was good to the 22, then a Adam Cooper run was good to the 23. Cooper was handed the ball one more time, this time breaking loose for the 79-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, and Watertown was on the board, 7-0 with 8:25 left in the half.

DeKalb just could not get rolling in the first half, going three and out before punting again from their own 26, giving the Purple Tigers the ball at their own 45. A second down Price keeper was good to the DeKalb 45, and later a pass to Ethan Owen set Watertown up at the 10. There, the DeKalb D-Line got tough.

A fumbled snap ended with a five-yard loss for Watertown, then a couple of carries only reached the 8-yard-line. An offsides by DeKalb gave them four more yards, and on fourth down the Purple Tigers kicked the field goal. With 3:08 left in the half, Watertown commanded a 10-0 lead.

The Tigers were running out of time if they wanted to get on the board before halftime, but finally a little luck came their way. Watertown decided to try an onside kick on the kickoff, but the ball failed to go the required 10 yards and rolled out at the Watertown 43. From there, DeKalb finally got going.

A Trapp keeper was good to the 39, then a pass to Chalfant was down to the 18. A handoff to Ari White, then to Chalfant took the ball to the 11, then a White carry was good to the six. With a first and goal, but with less than a minute left in the half, the Tigers tried for the endzone. A keep was fumbled but recovered at the four, then a White run ended with him slipping at the line. A toss to White ended with a four-yard loss and facing fourth down with only 3 seconds left in the half, DeKalb went for the field goal. The Adrian Prater kick was good, and as the half ended, DeKalb was on the board 10-3.

DeKalb would get the ball to start the second half, but once again it looked like it would be the same old play. The Tigers would start at their own 28, but only male the 40 before being forced to punt.

Watertown would start at their own 34, but would only gain four yards before sack backed them up to the 21. The punt would roll out at the DeKalb 49, setting them up to even things up.

A Trapp pass to Ryon Lyons was completed down to the 26, where on third down another pass to Lyons fell incomplete, but a pass interference call set the Tigers up at the 12. White ran for two yards, then a bad snap ended with Trapp falling on the ball at the 14. There, a Briz Trapp pass to Chalfant was good in the endzone for a touchdown. With the extra point, DeKalb had tied the game at 10 with 6:27 left in the third.

Momentum had shifted to DeKalb’s side of the field. Watertown would start at their own 40 on their next possession, but aided by a sack for nine-yard loss, the Purple Tigers were forced to punt.

DeKalb would start at their own 29, and would soon take their first lead of the game. A pass to Jordan Parker was completed to the 42, and later a keeper was down at the 16. A White carry was good for two more, then another completion to Parker was good to the 12. There, on a third and six play, a pass to Chalfant hit Ty Webb’s helmet and was caught by Chalfant at the one.

It looked like the Tigers were set up for another touchdown, but Watertown toughened up. A Cecil Ketchum was stuffed for a two-yard loss, then a holding penalty backed DeKalb up to the 13. A couple of keepers only reached the six, and DeKalb had to settle for a field goal. The kick was up and good. DeKalb was in the lead 13-10 as the final second of the third quarter ticked away.

Watertown would only reach the 38 on their next possession and would end up punting it away.

DeKalb would start at their own 28, and again mount a scoring drive. On a third and eight call, Ketchum broke loose for a run to the 43, and later Ty Webb would carry to the Watertown 33. There, it looked like the drive might stall. A White carry was stuffed at the line, then a pass to Lyons sailed over his head. A pass to Chalfant was good but stopped at the line, and facing fourth down the Tigers went for it. An offsides penalty gave DeKalb a fourth and five from the 28, and Trapp called his own number, running it in for the touchdown. With the extra point, DeKalb was up 20-10 with 4:15 left to play.

With Watertown behind two scores with little time left on the clock, the Purple Tigers had to take to the air game to try to make something happen. They would go three and out, before DeKalb would do the same with 2:29 left in the game. It would end up being too much for Watertown with the Black and Gold Tigers claiming the 20-10 victory.

The Tigers now prepare for their Homecoming game against the Gordonsville Tigers this Friday. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m.