The DeKalb County Tigers opened up the 2024 season last Friday night, claiming a victory over the visiting Warren County Pioneers, 28-14. The win evens the border war tally against Warren County, 10-10.

Quarterback Jordan Parker had a big night. Starting at their own 12, the Tigers drove down the field in five plays to the Warren 45. There, a pass to Lyons was good to the 27, but a sideline penalty on the Pioneers added five more. A keep was good to the two-yard line, but a hold on the next play backed then up 10. Parker would then throw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Lyons with 2:34 left in the first period to put the Tigers on the board first. Adrian Prater added the PAT and the Tigers were up 7-0.

It would be Parker with a keeper in the second quarter. Starting at their own six, a Cecil Ketchum carry would get them to the 28. A delay of game would cost them five, then Parker broke lose for a long touchdown run with 4:30 left in the half. Prater was true again and the Tigers held a 14-0 lead.

The Pioneers finally got on the board with 2:03 left in the half, after QB Brady Swallows connected a pass to Isaiah Robledo for an 84-yard play. With the PAT by Gavin Looper, Warren County was on the board, 14-7.

The Tigers weren’t through putting points on the board, with Parker coming through again in the fourth quarter. He would score on a four yard keep with 9:38 left in the game, then again on a 15-yard keeper with just 4:47 left to play. With the PATs by Prater, the Tigers held a 28-7 lead.

Warren County would put one more touchdown on the board late in the game. It would be Swallows to Robledo again on a nine-yard pass with just 2:30 left in the game. With the Looper PAT, the Pioneers had cut the lead 28-14, but it would be too little too late.

DeKalb would hang on for the 28-14 victory.

Parker had 16 rushes on the night for 164 yards and three touchdowns. He was also sacked two times. Cecil Ketchum had six carries for 30 yards, Ty Webb five rushes for 29 yards and Jon Hendrix one carry for three yards.

On the receiving side, Ryan Lyons had six catches for 71 yards and one touchdown. Hendrix had five receptions for 84 yards, and Jerret Hamilton one catch for seven yards. Parker connected 11 passes on 14 attempts for 132 yards, while Hendrix went one for one on passes for 30 yards.

Lyons also had a 53-yard return, while Hendrix had a seven-yard return. Prater went four for four on extra points, and had one field goal miss.

The Tigers will travel to Smith County next Friday night, to take on the Owls. Smith County lost at home to Gordonsville 20-6 Friday night.