The DeKalb County Middle School Saints football team couldn’t ask for a better start to their season. The team opened up with a sloppy 8-0 shutout win against Fentress County, but have gone on to dominate through their next three games. Through the first five games, the Saints have outscored their opponents 164 to 14, with only one touchdown coming with the first-string players on the field.
While the wins against Fentress and Cumberland County might be seen as victories over usually weaker teams, the wins against the usually strong Macon County Tigers and Smith County Owls, who just came off a win against White County, are seen as much more impressive.
The game last Tuesday against Smith County showed that the DMS Saints are for real. The Owls won the toss and deferred until the second half. DeKalb would waste little time getting on the board. Starting at their own 48, a keep by Collin Donnell was downed at the Owl 40. A run by Reed Midgett gained seven more, then Gavin Frazier carried the ball down to the 22.
Donnell would keep the ball three more times, taking it in on a six-yard run for a touchdown. Midgett would carry for the two-point conversion and with 4:09 left in the first, the Saints were up 8-0.
Smith County would come right back with their first possession of the game. With an onside kick, touched by a Saint player, the Owls would start at the DeKalb 43. From there, as the second quarter began, DeKalb would get a dose of Jostyn Antonio, who carried the ball five times, down to the DeKalb 28. There, a Colton Jenkins keep was good to the 22, then a pass to Jackson Lankford was broken up by Rocky Cantrell. On a fourth and four play, a pitch back to Antonio ended with a first and goal at the three. Two plays later, Antonio was into the endzone with 7:01 left in the half. An Antonio run for two was stopped, but the Owls were on the board, 8-6. It would be the last points they would see.
The Saints’ offense once again showed their strength on their next drive. Starting at their own 45, Donnell would keep for two plays, driving the ball down to the Smith 45. A hold would back the Saints up, then a Gavin Frazier run was stopped four yards short. On fourth down, Donnell ran the ball himself and reached the five-yard line. Midgett was then handed the ball again and was in for six. A Donnell keeper was stopped on the two-point attempt, but DeKalb was up 14-6 with 4:02 left in the half.
The Owls would start at their own 48 on the next drive, but would actually lose a yard before being forced to punt.
DeKalb got the ball back at their own 30, but soon got moving to add to their lead before time ran out. A Frazier run was good to the 44, then another was down at the 49. A keeper was stuffed for a loss, but then a pass to Bryson Redmon was good to the Smith 36.
A couple of passes to Cantrell flew over his head, but then a Donnell keep was downed at the 16. There, a hold backed DeKalb up to the 26, where a pass to Midgett was incomplete, and a pass to Levi Cripps fell short. Donnell would again call his own number, and was downed at the 11-yard line. On a fourth down play, a Hayden Quarles pass connected with Levi Cripps in the endzone. A fumbled snap on the two-pointer doomed the play, but DMS was ahead, 20-6 with seven seconds left in the half.
The Owls would get the ball to start the third quarter, but they still couldn’t get moving. Starting at the DeKalb 49, they would net only four yards before deciding to roll the dice on fourth down. The pass play fell incomplete and the Saints would take over at their own 45.
Once again, the offense made quick work on the Owls. A Frazier run was good to the 50, then another to the 35. A Donnell keep was down to the 25, then Midgett was handed the ball and in for the touchdown. A Cantrell run into the endzone was called back for a false start, then a low snap killed another two-point play, but the Saints were on top 26-6 with 3:54 left in the third.
Things would get worse for the Owls. An onside kick ended with Smith County at the DeKalb 40, but a sack by Redmon and Donnell pushed them back to the 44. A pass then fell incomplete, then another pass play ended with an interception by Cantrell at the 43. The next play saw Donnell keep the ball and stroll in for another touchdown. Frazier would run in the two-pointer, and with 2:23 left in the third, the Saints commanded a 34-6 lead.
The Owls would never get moving again in the game. A sack by Braxton Bain backed the Owls up on their next drive, ending with a punt. DeKalb, playing the clock, would stick to the conservative ground game and would themselves punt on their next drive. The Owls would get one more possession, but would go three and out, being forced to punt, with the Saints running out the clock and taking the 34-6 victory.
Saints record this season so far:
8-0 Fentress Co.
46-8 Cumberland Co. Jets
36-0 Macon Co. Tigers
34-6 Smith Co. Owls
40-0 Warren Co. Pioneers
Overall Scores 164-14
