The DeKalb County High School Football Tigers were back in action last Friday after taking a scheduled bye week from the regular season. DeKalb needed to win out in its last two regular season games in order to move on to post-season play. The team hosted the White County Warriors in what would be a tough offensive game that wouldn’t be decided until the fourth quarter.

The Tigers won the toss and decided to defer until the second half. There was a touchback on the kickoff and the Warriors would start the game from their own 20. There, White County stayed to the ground game and push its way downfield for points.

Acting QB Isaiah Kelso reached the 32 on a keep, then a run by Demarious Dowell was down at the 50. A Darvon Richmond run was stopped at the 32, where a second down keep was good to the 27. Another keep took the ball to the 19, where Dowell gained two more yards. He was handed the ball one more time and this time he was in for six. The extra point was good, and with 8:07 left in the first, White County was in the lead 7-0.

The kick went out of bounds and DeKalb started its first drive from the 30. There, two handoffs to Cecil Ketchum were stuffed at the line, then Jordan Parker connected a pass to Jarrett Hamilton down to the 40. A keeper was good for two, then a pitch to Jon Hendrix was down to the 47. Parker would then pass to Ryan Lyons he made a leaping catch for a first down at the Warrior 45.

A Ketchum run was good to the 37, then Parker would take a sack back at the 43. An illegal formation call would back them up to the 48. On a third and 13 play, Paker kept the ball and took it down to the 28-yard line. A second down keep was good to the 24, then, as the second quarter began, a pass to Wyatt Carter was down at the five. Parker would connect with Carter again, this time for the touchdown. Adrian Prater’s extra point was good and the game was tied, 7-7, with 11:57 left in the half.

Dowell would return the kickoff to the 40, and the Warriors would waste little time. A Dowell carry was good for five yards, then a Richmond run was good for two more. Kelso would keep the ball himself on the next play and would take it all the way in for six points. With the PAT and with 10:12 left in the half, White County was back on top, 14-7.

The game would turn into an offensive slugfest, and the Tigers would answer on their next possession. Hendrix would return the kick to midfield, where a keep was down to the four, but a holding call backed DeKalb up. Another Parker keep was good to the Warrior 40, then a pass to Hamilton sailed over his head. Hendrix would run to the 36, then a pass to Lyons went over his head. On fourth and six, DeKalb rolled the dice. Another pass to Lyons connected, this time down to the 28.

A false start would back the Tigers up five, then Parker kept the ball himself, breaking three tackles and scrambling into the endzone. With the PAT and 7:22 left in the half, the Tigers had tied the score 14-14.

The Warriors would return the kick to their own 20, where a bad snap caused a keeper to gain only one yard. A Richmond run broke loose down to the DeKalb 35, then Kelso delt with a low snap on a keeper, ran to the 24, where he fumbled but recovered the ball. The next play saw Antonio Purvis with a carry, in for the touchdown. With the extra point, the Warriors were back on top, 21-14, with 5:39 left in the half.

DeKalb would go three and out on its next possession, but the defense would step up and keep White County from adding to its score before the end of the half.

Hendrix would return the ball to the 46 to start the third quarter, where a keeper took the ball to the White County 47. Another keep was good to the 43, then Lyons made another leaping catch down at the 29. Hendrix would then run to the 24 where the drive would stall. A Ketchum run was stopped for no gain, then a pass to Hendrix went out of bounds. Parker would attempt to pass on the next play, but end up running down to the 15, but a hold was called. The Warriors declined the penalty and took over on downs.

Once again, the DeKalb defense stepped up and the Warriors would only reach the 48 before their drive stalled. A keep was good to the 43, but then Kelso would be sacked at the 47. Facing fourth down, they would punt.

DeKalb started at their own 11 and would only reach the 49 before being forced to punt as the fourth quarter began.

White would be held to a three and out, and facing a fourth and two from its own 38; they would go for it. The Dowell carry was stuffed for no gain and the Tigers took over on downs.

With great field position, the Tigers were poised to strike. A Parker keep was good to the 37, then a pass to Ty Webb was down at the 22. A Ketchum run would be stopped back at the 27, then a pass to Lyons was caught, breaking a tackle to push in for the touchdown. The PAT was good, and with 8:29 left in the game, the score was tied 21-21.

The game had then switched to a defensive battle as both teams would be held to a three and out. White County started at its own 35, and would only reach the 39 before being forced to punt. Then, DeKalb started back at its own 12, where the team would be stopped for zero yards.

The punt gave the Warriors the ball at the DeKalb 37, and there, White County put in its regular quarterback, Tripp Pinion, who had been sidelined with an injury. On the first play, Pinion connected a pass to Richmond in for the touchdown. The PAT was no good, but with 4:41 left in the game White County was on top, 27-21.

The Warriors garnered a penalty after the touchdown, backing them up on the kickoff. On the kick, Ketchum returned to the DeKalb 45 setting the Tigers up for a potential game-winning drive. The Warriors were ready however.

Parker would be sacked back at the 39 on the first play, then again at the 30. Facing a third and 25, Parker took to the air on the next play, launching a pass to Hendrix near the sideline. The pass was intercepted by Purvis, giving White County the ball at the DeKalb 45, with 2:46 left to play. The Tigers would not see the ball again.

The Warriors would gain two more first downs and essentially run out the clock for the 27-21 victory.

The Tigers fall to 6-3 on the season and 2-3 in the region. They will close out the regular season on Halloween night, October 31, against the undefeated Upperman Bees (9-0).