The DeKalb Middle School Saints football team finished the regular season at 6-3, but that wasn’t enough to put them into post season competition. With only the top two teams moving on to the playoffs, the Saints found themselves in third place even with their late-season surge. The team would get to play a consolation game however, played last Thursday at home against the Algood Redskins.

The Redskins would put points on the board first. They would receive to start the game, and taking mostly to the air would proceed to move down the field. With a squib kick downed at the Saints’ 39, passes to Marcus Wilson and Laken Gore moved the ball to the 29, then a run by Nathan Dyer was down to the six. A hold would back them up to the 16, but after an incomplete, a pass connected with Dyer in the end zone for six. A pass play for a two-point conversion fell incomplete, but with 2:42 left in the first quarter, the Redskins were up 6-0.

On the kick, the Saints’ Reed Midgett returned to the DeKalb 46. From there it looked like disaster might strike DeKalb. On the first play, a Collin Donnell keeper was fumbled with Algood recovering at their own 39. The game could have got away from the Saints right then, but the D-line stepped up, holding the Redskins to zero yards.

As the second quarter began, Algood punted giving the Saints the ball on their own 43. From there it looked as if DeKalb might finally get on the board. With Donnell keepers, and runs by Domminic Williamson and Preston Taylor the Saints moved down to the Algood 29, where a pair of holding calls backed the Saints up with third and 22 at the 49. From there, a Hayden Quarles pass to Cooper Odom connected down to the nine-yard line.

A pair of Donnell keeps were good to the four, then a bad snap resulted in Donnell falling on the ball back at the nine. On a fourth and goal, another bad snap ended with Donnell sacked at the 15. The Redskins took over with 10 seconds left in the half.

It would be a new game for the Saints in the second half and they would finally get things going in the right direction. An Algood squib ended with the Saints getting the ball at the Redskins’ 49. From there, the Saints would move down field and put points on the board.

A keep was good to the 44, then a Gavin Frazier run was down to the 36. Aiden Garza carried to the 28, then a hold backed DeKalb up to the 38. Donnell dealt with another bad snap but was able to run to the 29 on the next play, then another pair of keeps were good to the eight. An offsides set the Saints up at the three, where another Donnell keep was good for the touchdown. A two-point attempt was no good, but the Saints were on the board, 6-6.

The DMS defense was fired up, and showed it on Algood’s next possession. Returning to the 47, the Redskins gained only three yards before a false start had them with a third and 12 at the 45. The Algood pass play was then intercepted by Cooper Odom, downed at the Saints 48.

Again, the Saints would move down the field but find points hard to come by. A couple of runs by Frazier were good to the 32, then three quarterback keeps had the ball to the eight. A hold would back the Saints up, but another run by Frazier got the yards back. On a third and four from the eight, Donnell was sacked back at the 11, and DMS decided to go for it. As the fourth quarter began, a Quarles pass to Preston Cantrell fell incomplete in the end zone and the Redskins took over on downs.

Once again, the Saints’ D-line stood fast, causing Algood to actually lose two yards before being forced to punt from their own eight.

The Saints looked at great field position once again, but could not take advantage. Runs by Frazier moved the ball to the 10, then a pair of Donnell keeps were stuffed for no gain. On fourth down, the Saints went for it again. The pass to Taylor fell incomplete and the Redskins took over once again deep in their own territory.

It would be the Saints defense that would break the stalemate. On a third and seven play, from the eight yard line, a Redskin pass was intercepted by Frazier, who ran it in for six. A Donnell keeper was good for a two-point conversion, and with 2:39 left in the game the Saints were on top, 14-6.

Algood would have one more possession, starting at their own 42, but the DeKalb defense held the to zero yards forcing a fourth down turnover on downs. The Saints would run the clock down and claim the 14-6 victory.

The Saints end the 2023 season 7-3 overall.