The DMS season began earlier than usual this season, a full three weeks before DCHS takes its first regular season snap. While it wasn’t pretty at times for the Saints, DeKalb opened the book on the 2024 Season with a win, 8-0 over perennial powerhouse Fentress County on a hot and muggy night last Thursday at home.
The Saints’, and the game’s itself, lone score came as the result of 8th Grader Bryson Redmon’s opening kickoff return to the 2-yard line. “The guys blocked for me, and I was able to find a crease and take off. It felt good,” said Redmon.
The Saints chose to go ‘Beast Mode’ to punch the ball in, as William Soto took the direct snap and powered his way across the goal line on the first play from scrimmage. Reed Midgett rumbled in for the 2-point conversion, giving the Saints all the points they would need in the contest.
“First and foremost, we came out with a win”, said Head Coach Justin Poteete. “While we didn’t put up the points we want to in a game, the main objective is to come and there and get a win.”
The Saints’ Defense played well throughout the contest, allowing just one first down, while gathering an interception and forcing a fumble. While happy with the unit, Poteete sees room for improvement. “Defensively things may have looked good during the game, but there were several times going back looking at film, that we weren’t lined up correctly and getting set up very late. Some of the teams we will play later in the season will expose that,” said Poteete. “I thought the effort, intensity and physicality was much better in the second half. I definitely feel like we have some headhunters out here that are not afraid to go one on one with the other teams’ best players”.
Offensively, the Saints showed signs of potential but were consistently stymied by mishaps. Penalties, bobbled snaps and a fumble hampered DeKalb from generating offensive momentum all night long. “We just shot ourselves in the foot. Whether it be dropped snaps, bad snaps or fumbles, but those are things that we can coach and teach, we just have to have these kids show up every day ready to work and get better. The main thing I took from this game was that I hope it was a wake-up call for our team,” said Poteete.
After a week of work, the Saints will return to action this Thursday when Cumberland County pays a visit to DMS in Smithville for game two of the Saints’ 2024 campaign. Game time is 6:30.
