The DeKalb County High School Tigers were once again on the road last Friday evening, this time taking on an old foe, the Cannon County Lions in Woodbury. After dropping three home games, and winning both road games this season, the Tigers were looking for another road victory and getting to .500.
The first quarter saw no points on the board for either team, and DeKalb would only get one possession through the period. The Lions won the toss and elected to get the ball first, but would not be able to move the ball on their first possession. The Tigers would not fare much better. Starting their first possession at their own 41, they would only push to midfield before a sack would kill the drive.
Cannon County's next drive would see the first points of the game. Starting at their own 45, the Lions would push into Tiger territory. In a drive that saw two successful fourth down conversions Cannon moved the ball down to the DeKalb 12 as the first quarter ended. Two plays later, Connor Tucker ran it up the middle, into the end zone. An extra point kick by Jack Byford was good, and the Lions took the early lead.
DeKalb may have been down, but on the kickoff return the Tigers gained their momentum. On the return, Isaac Knowles fielded the ball and looked to have been tackled in DeKalb territory, but his knee was never on the ground, and he ran the ball back to the Lion 39. Seven plays later, a pass by QB Axel Aldino was complete to
Desmond Nokes in the end zone. Jasper Kleparek added the extra point and DeKalb had tied the score, 7-7, with 7:37 left in the half.
The Lions would go three and out on their next possession and DeKalb would waste no time adding to their tally. As the Lions were set to punt from their own 35, a bad snap went over the punter's head, and DeKalb recovered at the Lion 9. Three plays later, an Aldino keeper was up the middle for six. The Kleparek kick was good and DeKalb was up 14-7, with 4:17 left in the half.
It would get no better for Cannon County. The Lions would start their next possession at their own 29, but just two plays later, Nokes intercepted a pass and set the Tigers up at the 22. It took just three plays when a pass to Knowles was good for another touchdown. The extra point was good, and with 2:43 left in the half, DeKalb was up 21-7.
On the kickoff, Cannon began their next drive at their own 27, but would only net two yards before having to punt, and giving DeKalb the ball back at the Lion 46. In just five plays, with 31 seconds on the clock, an Aldino pass to Evan Jones was good for six. Kleparek tacked on the extra point and DeKalb was up 28-7.
As the second half began, the Tigers started their next drive at their own 47. Leaning mainly on the ground game, DeKalb pushed six plays down to the Lion four yard line. There, a pass to Travante Alexander was good for six more points. With the extra point, the Tigers were up, 35-7 with 8:06 left in the third.
The Lions started their next drive at their own 31, and would manage just one first down before having to punt. On what looked to be a beautiful kick that would back the Tigers up at their own two yard line, at the last second Knowles snatched the ball up and ran it back for a 98-yard touchdown. With the extra point, DeKalb extended its lead, 42-7 with 5:33 left in the third.
Things only got worse for the Lions on their next possession. On a third and 12 play from their own 12, Nokes intercepted a pass, giving the ball back to DeKalb at the Cannon 28.
It took just five plays before Colby Barnes ran it up the middle for a touchdown. With the extra point, the Tigers took a 49-7 lead.
And that's where the score would stay, as it became a desperation game for the Lions, and a clock management game for the Tigers. DeKalb would move to 3-3, while the Lions fell to 0-6.
"Just proud of our guys and how they performed tonight, not in the first quarter, but after that we got our stuff together," Head Coach Steve Trapp said after the game. "We have a big game next week, Homecoming versus Livingston. It's a region game. We've got to control our own destiny inside of the region."
"For me, homecoming is for everybody outside the field," he continued. "I feel a responsibility to take care of DeKalb County on homecoming. That's what it's all about. We're going to focus on getting these guys ready, and we're going to put out a great effort next week."
The Tigers will face off against Livingston Academy next Friday as they return home for their Homecoming celebration. Kickoff will be at 7:00 PM.
