They knew it was going to be a battle, and a battle was what they got.  As the DeKalb County Tigers traveled the long twisted road to Macon County, they knew everything was on the line. The Class 4A Region 3 title was up for grabs, and DeKalb would have to face adversity both on and off the field. It would be a historic night.

It would be Tigers versus Tigers, with the championship going to the winner. DeKalb was tied with Macon County, 2-0, in regional play, and had already passed one major obstacle, beating Livingston Academy earlier this season. With a win, DeKalb would own the tiebreaker, even if they lose their last regular scheduled season game against Cumberland County. 

As the game began, it was obvious that good sportsmanship was lost on many of the Macon County fans. The contentious, and sometimes heated, game would be played as fans blared out sound effects and music from speakers near the end zone whenever DeKalb had the ball. The intended distractions would not affect DeKalb County, as the team got down to the business of playing football.

It was apparent that points would be a premium in the game, as the first quarter would turn out to be a slugfest. DeKalb would move just past midfield on their first possession before an interception gave Macon the ball at their own 38.

Macon would only get to the 50 on their first possession, before being forced to punt on fourth down.

DeKalb looked to put up the first points of the game on their next possession, driving all the way down to the Macon 13-yard line, before a sack backed them to the 31 and doomed the drive. Going for it on fourth down, an incomplete pass gave the ball back to Macon.

On Macon's next possession, they would drive down to midfield as the second quarter began, then move all the way down to the DeKalb 32. There, the DeKalb D-line stepped up and stuffed three runs in a row that netted only two yards. After a delay of game penalty, Macon went for it from the 37 on fourth down, but the pass play fell incomplete.

It looked as if DeKalb's next drive might stall right off the bat. A pass to Isaac Knowles lost two yards, then an Axel Aldino keeper resulted in another two-yard loss. Then, facing a third and 14, Aldino connected a long pass to Travante Alexander all the way down to the Macon 25.

From there, a pass to Knowles took them to the 21, but an intentional grounding call on the next play had the Tigers backed up to the 29. There, on a third and 14, an Aldino pass to Desmond Nokes set DeKalb up at the 12. A Colby Barnes run on the next play took them to the two, then a pass to Nokes was good for six points. With the extra point kick by Jasper Kleparek, DeKalb took the first lead, 7-0, with 3:48 left in the first half.

It wouldn't take long for Macon to answer. After the kickoff, Macon began at their own 40, and a run by Ethan Jenkins on the first play had them down to the DeKalb 23. Runs by Dylan Chupp and Jenkins, aided by a facemask penalty on DeKalb, put them down to the 9, then a carry by Hunter Herron gave Macon a touchdown. The extra point kick went wide, but Macon was on the board, 7-6, with 2:18 left in the half.

After a squib kick, DeKalb started their next possession at their own 40, and Aldino wasted no time putting points on the board for the Tigers. On the first play, Aldino connected with Nokes for a 60-yard touchdown. With the extra point by Kleparek, DeKalb was up 14-6 with 2:05 on the clock.

The offensive slugfest was far from over. Macon started their next drive at their own 34, and a second down run by Jenkins took them all the way down to the DeKalb 19. As the clock continued to run, two more runs by Herron, set Macon up down at the three, then a Chupp carry was good at the two. Then, a Braydee Brooks keeper went up the middle for six points with only 6 seconds left in the half. A two-point pass attempt fell incomplete, but Macon had closed the gap, 14-12.

It was back to defense as the second half began. Macon got the ball and started at their own 36. Sticking entirely to the running game, Macon would drive down to the DeKalb 40 before a false start, and a stuffed run, gave them a fourth and 4 at the 42. The drive's lone pass play connected to Herron, but only for two yards. DeKalb took over on downs.

DeKalb could do no better. The Tigers would get to midfield, where, on a fourth and 1, a fake punt took them into Macon territory at the 47. DeKalb would only gain two more yards, before having to actually punt, and backing Macon up at their own 16.

Macon's next drive looked like it might put them in the lead, but would end in a goal line stand for DeKalb. On the second play of the drive, Brooks connected a long pass to Herron, all the way to the DeKalb 21. There, a Chupp carry, another Herron run, and a keeper gave Macon a first and goal at the nine. Two carries by Jenkins netted only seven yards, then a Chupp run lost a yard. As the fourth quarter began, Macon faced a fourth and goal from the three, and they decided to go for the touchdown. DeKalb's defense went after Brooks, and the pass play fell incomplete. DeKalb took over on downs.

Backed up deep, the DeKalb offense worked quickly to move down the field. On a second down play from the five, Aldino connected with Knowles down to the 41. Two plays later, an up-the-middle run by Barnes set DeKalb up at the Macon 49. Carries by Nokes, Aldino, and Barnes drove DeKalb to the 38, where a pass to Alexander was good to the 20. From there they would gain only three more yards, and would settle for a Kleparek field goal attempt. The kick was good, but DeKalb had an uncomfortable 17-12 lead, with 6:12 left to play.

If fans were uneasy in the fourth quarter, it was for good reason. Macon was far from finished, and showed it on their next drive. The kickoff was returned to the 34, where, in just three plays, Macon would move to midfield. Then, a Chupp run carried them to the DeKalb 15. A couple of carries by Jenkins were good to the four, then Chupp took it up the middle for a touchdown. A two-point pass to Herron was good, and Macon took the lead, 20-17, with 3:40 left in the game.

With time running out, it was do or die for the DeKalb Tigers. Their drive started at their own 25, and on the first play a pass to Nokes was good to the 36. A keeper on the next play took them to the 48, but then a bad snap resulted in a sack back at the 44. From there, on a third and 14 play, Aldino avoided a sack and connected a pass to Alexander at the Macon 41. Aldino ran it to the 34 on the next play, then, after an incomplete to Knowles, a keeper took them to the Macon 18.  Aldino ran it to the 14 on the next play, then a pass to Nokes was good for the touchdown with 45 seconds left in the game. DeKalb regained the lead, 24-20.

Macon had one last chance, returning the kickoff to their own 27, but the DeKalb D-line would not allow one more yard. Macon went three and out, and DeKalb was able to take a knee.  

The DeKalb County High School Football Tigers claimed the Class 4A Region 3 championship, marking the first time in school history. With one regular season game left to play, the team is guaranteed a first-round, home, state play-off game. 

"We just kept plugging away," Head Coach Steve Trapp told the Smithville Review after the game. "We knew Macon County was going to battle. We both knew what was on the line. 58 years of DeKalb County Football and we finally win a championship. We've got to finish out, but I'm just proud of our guys. There were a lot of rough moments in that game," he continued. "But our guys battled and we got what we wanted at the end."

The Tigers have a bye-week next Friday, but will return for Senior Night on Friday, October 23.

Class 4A Region 3 standings and team records:
DeKalb County: 6-3 (3-0)
Macon County: 6-2 (2-1)
Livingston Academy: 5-3 (2-1)
Stone Memorial: 3-5 (1-3)
Cumberland County: 0-8 (0-3)