While the DeKalb Middle School Saints’ opening game may have seemed a little lackluster in the action department, with the only score made after the opening kickoff was returned to the two-yard-line, the team more than made up for it last Thursday with a dominating performance against visiting Cumberland County. DeKalb would impose their will on the Jets through most of three quarters, with the visiting team only avoiding the shutout late in the game. 

The Saints would win the toss and elect to receive to open the game. Levi Cripps would field the kick and run it all the way in for a touchdown. Collin Donnell would take the direct snap and run it in for the two-point conversion, and just 15 second into the game, DeKalb was up 8-0.

The Saints D-line held their ground as the Jets started a drive at their own 48, but they would only reach the 50 before a penalty for too many men on the field backed them up to the 45 and they were forced to punt.

The Saints’ first real offensive play got off to a rough start with a bad snap. Starting at midfield, the snap resulted in a 10-yard loss. There the drive stalled and DeKalb would punt.

The Jets would be backed up to their own 38, but again the DeKalb defense held tough. Cumberland would only net one yard before again punting. This time the Saints would make them pay.

DeKalb began their drive at the Jets’ 40, where a Donnell keeper netted two yards. A Hayden Quarles pass to Cripps fell incomplete, then a Rocky Cantrell carry was stopped at the 31. Facing a fourth and one, the Saints went for it.

As the second quarter began, Reed Midgett was handed the ball and took it down to the 19. Gavin Frazier was given the ball next and he was in for six with 7:28 left in the half. A Donnell keeper for two was stopped at the line, but the Saints were up 14-0.

DeKalb wasn’t done there. An onside kick ended with Bryson Redmon falling on the ball at the Saints’ 46, and just like that the offense was back on the field. A Quarles pass to Cripps was broken up, then a run by Frazier took the ball back to the endzone. A Rocky Cantrell carry was in for two, and with 7:02 on the clock the Saints held a 22-0 lead.

The Jets would finally get back on offense fielding the ball at the Saints 47. A run by Hunter Wright gained just two yards, then a Zane Cagle pass to Austin Ragan fell incomplete. Cagle would then be sacked back at the 46 by Frazier, and the Jets would have to punt.

After a holding penalty on the punt return, the Saints started back at the 22-yard-line. Cripps then caught a pass and ran it all the way down for the touchdown. A Donnell keeper was good for two and DeKalb was up 30-0 with 4:45 left in the half.

Cumberland was on the ropes, and their next drive went in the wrong direction. Starting at their own 40, a false start and a few runs caught in the backfield, the Jets found themselves facing a fourth and 30 from their own 20.

Cantrell would return the punt to the Jets’ 31 and from there Frazier was handed the ball again. He would break two tackles and power his way into the endzone with 1:25 left in the half. Midgett would take the ball in for the two-point conversion and the Saints were on top, 38-0.

In the second half, the Mercy Rule went into effect, with the clock continuing to run if a team is over 30 points in the lead in the second half. The Jets would get the ball to start, and would manage to put some first downs on the board. They would push their way down to DeKalb’s 37, but there a fumbled handoff on fourth and three ended with the Saints taking over.

The Saints would run the ball, with an Elijah Watson carry for a first down at the 41, then a Rylan Thomas carry to the 45. Cantrell would take the ball to the 36, but then a Quarles keep on fourth down would be stopped at the 40.

The next play had Cumberland avoiding the shutout. As the fourth quarter began, Austin Peebles was handed the ball and ran it in for the touchdown. Peebles would run once more for the two-pointer and the Jets were on the board, 38-8 with 6:07 left to play.

The celebration wouldn’t last long. On the kick, the Saints would down at the Jets’ 49, then a Frazier carry was good to the 32. It was Frazier again with the run, this time in for six with 4:45 left in the game. Donnell got the two-point conversion and the Saints were ahead 46-8.

It was too much for the Jets and the clock continued to count down. Cumberland would end up punting on the next drive and the Saints would form the victory formation to take a knee. The Saints claimed the 46-8 victory.