The 2024 DeKalb Middle School Saints finished off the regular season unblemished, winning what was essentially the Western Conference Championship game Thursday night in Sparta.  DMS came into the game a perfect 7-0 on the season, while the White County Warriors were 6-1, their sole loss coming to conference rival Smith County.  The game was never in doubt as DeKalb forced the first of what would ultimately be four turnovers for White County in the contest, on the very first offensive snap of the game.  From there it was all DeKalb, as the Saints won handily 26-0.

Saints quarterback Collin Donnell was the star of the game, rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown, while going 3-3 through the air for 43 yards and a touchdown to wideout Levi Cripps.  Running backs Gavin Frazier and Reed Midgett were also productive, as Frazier ran for 35 yards and catching a two-point conversion, while Midgett added 22 yards rushing and two touchdowns.  All in, the Saints totaled 219 yards and 4 touchdowns in the contest.

The Saints defense again was impressive forcing two turnovers defensively and allowing 84 yards of offense, no points and only 3 first downs in the game.

The Warriors won the toss and elected to receive the ball, downing the ball at their own 43-yard line.  On their first snap, eighth-grader, Jordan Schipp forced and recovered a fumble on the center-quarterback exchange, giving the Saints the ball at the White County 42 yard-line.  From there, Donnell led DeKalb on a 5-play drive on 3 runs by him and 1 by Frazier before Donnell took the ball into the endzone from three yards out to give the Saints their first score of the night.  The two-point conversion would fail and with 5:30 left in the first quarter, the Saints led 6-0.

Disaster would strike again for the Warriors on the next kickoff when White County would muff the punt and DeKalb would recover at the White County 48-yard line.  Donnell would orchestrate another impressive 8 play, 48-yard scoring drive on 3 runs by Donnell, 3 Frazier runs and 1 Midgett run, before Midgett would take the ball in from 4 yards out to put the saints on the board again.  Again, the two-point conversion would fail and with 1:22 left in the first quarter, the Saints led 12-0.

Kicker, Bryson Redmon would boot the ball to the White County 47 yard-line on the next series.  Two plays later, White County would break free for 31 yards, but Midgett would knock the ball out during the run, and recover the fumble for DeKalb on the Saints 19-yard line. 

Frazier would get 6 yards on first down for the Saints before Donnell rushed 3 times for 36 yards.  Donnell would take a sack on the following play before finding Cripps on a 43-yard touchdown strike to give the Saints another score.  Again, the two-point conversion would fail but with 5:30 left in the half, the Saints led 18-0.

White County would again muff the Redmon kick, giving the ball back to the Saints offense at mid-field.  This time White County would force DeKalb to punt but punter, William Soto would pin the Warriors at their own 7-yard line.  White County would pick up their first, first down of the game but time would expire in the half before the Warriors could do anything else.

Sensing victory, Head Coach Justin Poteete decided to eat clock in the second half as both teams would exchange punts on their first drives of the second half.  On DeKalb’s second series of the half, Donnell would put together a masterful 14-play, 60-yard drive on 8 runs by Donnell, 2 runs by Frazier and 3 runs by Midgett, before Midgett would power in from 2-yards out to give the Saints their final touchdown of the game with 3:51 left in the contest.  This time Donnell’s pass to Frazier was good for the conversion, giving DeKalb a 26-0 lead.

White County would pick up 2 first downs in their next series but it was too late as time expired, giving DeKalb its first perfect regular season since 2018 and ending the season as the Western Conference Champions. The Saints outscored their opponents this season 258-20 with five shutouts. The win also gives the Saints a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs, as DeKalb will host Fentress County this Thursday at Dr. John L Vanhooser Memorial Stadium at 6:30.