It was do or die for the DeKalb County Tigers last week as they traveled to Macon County to face their Tiger counterparts. DeKalb had already stumbled with a loss to Stone Memorial the previous week and needed a win to stay in the post-season hunt. It would turn out to be a tale of two halves as the game progressed, with DeKalb coming out on top early, and Macon mounting a rally in the second half.

Macon would get the ball first and would quickly get on the board. Running the ball with Zach Borders and with keeps by Luke Gammon, the Macon Tigers pushed down to the DeKalb 17. There, a handoff to Gabe Borders was good for the touchdown with 8:16 left in the first. The PAT by Eli Gammon was good and Macon was up 7-0.

Macon’s kick went out of bounds and DeKalb began their first possession with good field position at their own 42. A Cecil Ketchum carry was stuffed at the line, then a pass to Ryan Lyons was good to the Macon 31. The next play, a pass to Jon Hendrix, was in the endzone for six. Adrian Prater’s PAT was good and the game was tied at 7 with 6:52 left in the first.

DeKalb looked to have some fortune on the kickoff after the return was fumbled and DeKalb fell on the ball at the Macon 49. Despite great field position, penalties would kill the drive. A hold backed them up 10, then a pass to Lyons lost two more yards. Jordan Parker would then be sacked at the 30, then another keep was only good to the 41. An offsides on Macon on fourth down made the punt 4th and 15 at the 46, but then the punt was blocked, ending with Macon with the ball at the DeKalb 30.

Macon would take advantage, and after a pass fell incomplete, then a Borders run gained five, a Gammon keeper was good for a touchdown. With the extra point, Macon was up 14-7 with 3:06 left in the first.

On their next possession, DeKalb would start at their own 38. A Ketchum carry would lose a yard, then a couple of passes to Hendrix set them up with a third and five. A Parker keep would see him at the 41, then he would take a sack at the 46. Another pass to Hendrix would fall incomplete, and facing fourth and 14, DeKalb lined up to punt. On the kick, Macon fumbled the return with DeKalb recovering at the Macon three. There, a handoff to Lyons was good for the touchdown. Prater’s PAT was no good, but DeKalb had cut the lead, 14-13 with 11:37 left in the half.

The miscues for Macon continued, and on their next drive Gammon fumbled but was able to fall on the ball at the 44. A pitch to Borders was good to the DeKalb 48, then another Borders run was down at the 43. A hold on the next play backed them up 10, then Gammon fumbled again, this time with DeKalb falling on the ball at the 34.

Right away, penalties backed DeKalb up. A hold pushed them back to the 44, where a pass to Hendrix was downed at the 41. A deep pass by Parker connected with Lyons at the 18, then a pass to Hendrix was incomplete. Parker would take a sack back at the 19, but then a keeper was good for six with 6:51 left in the half. A keeper for two points was good and DeKalb was on top, 21-14.

Macon would start at their own 34, and would manage to reach the DeKalb 36 where they would face a fourth and 10. They would go for it, with a pass falling incomplete.

DeKalb would take over on downs and add to their tally before the end of the half. A Ketchum run was good to the 49, then another to the Macon 45. A Parker keep was good to the 42, then a Jarett Hamilton carry was down at the 28. A hold on Macon on a second down play Gave DeKalb the ball at the 18, where a pass to Ty Webb was good to the 13. A keep was good to the 11, then an illegal substitution call had DeKalb with a fourth down at the 16. Prater lined up for the field goal. It was good and with 3 seconds left in the half, DeKalb was up 24-14.

DeKalb would add to their tally at the start of the third quarter. They would start at their own 27, where a Ketchum run was good to the 31. Later, a keep was down to the 48, where a late hit call on Macon would give DeKalb a fresh set of downs at the 37. A keeper was good to the 33, then another was down to the 15, but a hold backed DeKalb up to the 38. Ketchum carried to the 36, then a hit out of bounds call on Macon gave DeKalb a first down at the 21.

A pass to Hendrix was good to the 10, then a keeper was down at the six. Another keep was stopped at the seven, and facing fourth down, DeKalb set up for a field goal. The kick was good and with 5:43 left in the third, DeKalb was on top 27-14.

Unfortunately, that would be the last points DeKalb would see as Macon mounted a comeback. DeKalb would pin Macon back at their own nine, where a second down run by Borders was good to the 19, but another was back at the 17. A Gammon keep gained four yards, then a pass was good to the DeKalb 27. There, a borders carry was good for a touchdown with 2:36 left in the third. With the PAT, Macon cut the lead, 27-21.

DeKalb just couldn’t get moving after that. They would get the ball at their own 33, but end up losing two yards before being forced to punt. Macon would get the ball at their own 20, and a Gammon keep would run all the way for six. With the PAT, Macon took the 28-27 lead with 1:19 left in the third.

Once again, DeKalb would fail to gain yards on their next possession. Starting at the Macon 38 after a great Lyons return, they would only reach the 33 before a false start pushed them back. Facing a fourth and 10 as the fourth quarter began, they would punt. A low snap would end with Macon taking over at the 48. Once again, they would make them pay.

A Gammon keep was down to the 43, then a Borders run was good to the 31. Another keep was at the 10, then a Borders carry was in for six. The PAT was good and with 10:09 left to play, Macon was up 35-27.

It was as if Macon County had found another gear. DeKalb would get the ball at their own 32, and would reach the Macon 45 before the drive would stall. The punt would roll to the Macon 11, but it would not matter. Borders would be handed the ball and run for the 89-yrad touchdown. With the extra point, Macon commanded a 42-27 lead with 6:58 left in the game.

DeKalb would go three and out on their next possession, but after a punt DeKalb would get an interception at their own 28. It would not matter though. A pass to Hendrix reached the 34, then a false start backed them up five. Parker would then be sacked at the 29, then again at the 11. They would again have to punt. The kick was blocked and Taylen Swaffer would swoop the ball up and run it in for a touchdown. The PAT was good and with 2:12 left to play, Macon held a 49-27 lead.

DeKalb drops to 5-2 on the season, and 1-2 in the region, while Macon County improves to 5-2 and goes to 2-2 on region play. The Tigers will travel to Cumberland County in Crossville this Friday.