during its first games of the season, claiming an opening season shutout against Fentress County 8-0, then dominating the Cumberland Jets 46-8 the following week. But many looked at week-3 as the team’s first real test of the season as the Saints welcomed the Macon County Tigers during the DMS homecoming game. DeKalb would not disappoint.
The stands were full as the hometown crowd came out for the homecoming festivities, and the team, managers, and cheerleaders were recognized, along with this year’s homecoming court, just before the game. Needless to say, the Saints were fired up as they took to the field and they would get down to business right from the opening kickoff.
Macon County won the toss and deferred until the second half. On the kickoff, Levi Cripps would field the return, taking the ball all the way down to the two-yard line. There, Reed Midgett was handed the ball and powered his way in for the touchdown. Collin Donnell would keep the ball and run in for two-points, and only 22 seconds into the game, the Saints were up 8-0.
DeKalb wasn’t quite finished with their offense, however. On the kickoff, Midgett would fall on the ball at the Macon 49, and just like that the Saints were back in business. Gavin Frazier would get a carry, down to the Macon 31, then Midgett ran to the 22. A Donnell keeper was stopped just inches short, but the Saints rolled the dice. On a fourth down play, Frazier was handed the ball and was in for six. A Donnell keeper was good for two and with 5:47 left in the first quarter, the Saints commanded a 16-0 lead.
The Tigers would finally get the ball, falling on the ball at their own 47 on the kick. They would make the Saints 48-yard line, where they faced a fourth down, but an offsides penalty gave them new life. A keeper would take the ball down to the Saints’ 42, where an unsportsmanlike penalty was called on both sides of the ball. Runs by Matthew Cantrell and a carry by Camden Hachl, would get Macon down to the Saints 10 as the second quarter began. There, a Camden Hachl keep would end with a sack at the 11, then a fumble would be recovered by the Saints’ William Soto at the Macon 10. The Saints D-line had stepped up.
It wouldn’t take long for the DeKalb offense to make them pay. A Donnell keep was good to the 27, then a run by Midgett was down at the 39. Once again, Frazier was handed the ball, who powered his way through the line and down to the endzone. A Donnell keep was stopped for the two-point conversion, but with 5:43 left in the half, the Saints commanded a 22-0 lead.
Macon would start their next drive at their own 45. They would reach the Saints 49, before being pushed back to their own 48 on a third down play. Facing a fourth and seven, they would punt.
Once again, the Saints tacked on more points. Starting at their own 33, DeKalb began moving down the field. A pass to Rocky Cantrell was good to the 48, then a Donnell fumble backed them up to the 40. A Frazier carry gained back some ground to the 44, then a pass to Frazier ended in a touchdown, but a holding call negated the score. A lateral to Frazier was then good only to the 43, and facing a fourth and three, the Saints once again rolled the dice. The Frazier carry was good all the way for six. A pass to Midgett was caught in the endzone for the two-pointer, and with only 21 seconds left in the half, the Saints were up 30-0.
For the second week in a row, the mercy rule would come into play in the second half. With a 30-point lead, the clock would continue to run, again aiding DeKalb.
Macon would return to its own 28, and from there they would only gain three yards before facing a fourth and seven. With nothing to lose, they went for it. The pass play fell incomplete, setting DeKalb up at the Macon 31.
Frazier barreled through the defense, breaking tackles before being downed at the three-yard line. Hayden Quarles would keep the ball and walk it in for the touchdown. A pass to Bryson Redmon fell incomplete for the two-point PAT, but the Saints lead increased to 36-0 with 2:47 left in the third.
The Tigers just could not get moving and their next possession would end with a loss of 11 yards. They would punt from their own 24, and with the clock continuing to tick away, and now into the fourth quarter, time was running out.
The Saints started at the Macon 42, but an Elijah Watson carry would end up losing yards. On a second and 14 play, a fumble resulted in the Tigers getting the ball at the Saints 20. It would not matter, as the D-line again stepped up. Macon would only gain two yards on the drive and end up giving the ball back on a fourth and eight play.
With the clock running down, the Saints would simply take a knee and claim the 36-0 homecoming victory.
