Local Sports

Tigers Slay Dragons 47-19

The DeKalb County Tigers won the battle of the unbeatens Friday night with a 47 to 19 thumping of the York Institute Dragons in Smithville.

With the win, the Tigers improve to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the district.

Will Molander accounted for four of the Tiger touchdowns. Lucas Phillips scored twice and Sonni Fullilove caught a touchdown pass.

The Tiger defense put DC in position for the first score as Chris Chapman picked off a Dragon pass and returned it to the York Institute 30 yard line. Quarterback Lucas Phillips capped the drive on a four yard keeper. Ben Driver connected on the P.A.T. and DC led 7-0 with 6:36 left in the first period.

The Dragons answered with 2:34 left in the first period on a one yard touchdown run by Lance Crockett. The P.A.T. was good and the game was tied 7-7.

Will Molander scored on a 21 yard pass play from quarterback Lucas Phillips with 1:57 left in the first period and with Ben Driver's P.A.T., the Tigers re-took the lead, 14-7.

Sam Moore broke through the line and scampered 56 yards to give York Institute its second touchdown of the night at the end of the first quarter. The PA.T. was no good but the Dragons cut the Tiger lead to 14-13.

Quarterback Lucas Phillips scored on another four yard touchdown run to extend the DeKalb County lead with 9:32 left in the second period. Ben Driver's P.A.T. was good and the Tigers led 21-13.

Will Molander scored on a screen pass from quarterback Lucas Phillips, covering 80 yards for the touchdown with 6:05 left in the second period. The P.A.T. try by Ben Driver was no good but DC had built a two touchdown advantage at 27-13.

Molander scored again with 59 seconds left in the second period on a two yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lucas Phillips. The P.A.T. Try by Ben Driver was good and the Tigers had built a 34-13 lead by halftime.

Sonni Fullilove gave the Tigers even more breathing room with 10:47 left in the third period, catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Lucas Phillips. The kick by Ben Driver for the extra point was good and DeKalb County was out front 41-13.

Dragon quarterback Brannon McNellis scored on a touchdown run with 8:51 left in the third period. The two point conversion try failed, but York Institute had trimmed the Tiger lead to 41-19.

Will Molander then scored on a 69 yard kick off return with 8:32 left in the third period. The P.A.T. try by Ben Driver was no good but no matter, the Tigers went on to win 47-19.

DeKalb County will play its last home game of the regular season Friday night against the Macon County Tigers. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

Lady Tiger Soccer Team to Play York Institute

It's been a busy couple of weeks in the world of Lady Tiger Soccer. At one point, the Tigers had five games in six days! Coach K and the Tigers opened this stretch of games with one of the biggest victories in the history of the Lady Tiger soccer Program. On September 11th, the Lady Tigers traveled to Overton County to face rival Livingston Academy. Before that night in 2012, the Tigers had never beaten the Wildcats, but that night was a different story. The Tigers' defense, with the help of Freshman Goalkeeper Jessica Billings, did not allow a goal in the 2-0 victory. This game will linger in the hearts of the six seniors forever! No team has ever beat LA until now! The Tigers finished the week with a 7-0 rout of district opponent Friendship Christian. That following weekend the Tigers traveled to Franklin County for an exhibition tournament which included AAA schools that proved to be tough competition. The Tigers tied one game and lost two that weekend and finished the tournament in fifth place. The next week the Tigers played Cannon County during school hours and won this match with a score of three to zero. The school body was excited to be apart of this district shutout! The next game on our schedule is against York Institute on October 2nd, and will be the Lady Tigers final home game of the regular season. On this night, we will also be honoring our six seniors during a Senior Night Ceremony. Game time is at 6:30 p.m.. Ceremonies start at 6:00 p.m.. Please come out and support the Lady Tigers as they continue to contend for the district championship.

DeKalb Boys District Golf Champions, Sullivan and Roller Claim Individual Titles

DeKalb County's Mallory Sullivan fired a 74 at Ironwood Golf Course on Monday and Ethan Roller shot a 72 on Tuesday at the White Plains Course to win individual titles in the District 8-A/AA golf tournaments in Cookeville. Zach Martin shot a 77 to win the silver medal with the second lowest score

Meanwhile, the DeKalb County boys, for the ninth consecutive year, claimed the district championship on Tuesday. They won with a team score of 320. "This was the ninth year in a row they won that district championship and that's a pretty astounding level of golf talent we've had come through DeKalb County," said Coach Joe Pat Cope.

Sullivan will advance to the Region 4-A/AA Tournament as an individual next week in Chattanooga. "Mallory got the lowest score among females," said Coach Cope. "She shot a 74 to win the gold medal in that. She goes on to the region next week," he added.

"Our guys went undefeated during the regular season but we knew coming into the district tournament that teams such as Central Magnet and Friendship Christian would be there. I just really stressed all week about the guys taking it hole by hole and doing the best they could. They won with a team score of 320 today (Tuesday). "Ethan Roller shot a 72 and had the lowest score out of 75 golfers there. Zach Martin shot a 77, which was silver medalist, the second lowest score there today. That puts us in the region tournament in Chattanooga next Monday for our guys," said Coach Cope.

The DeKalb boys team competing next week is made up of Ethan Roller, Zach Martin, Hayden Ervin, Corey Kijanski, and Dylan Young.

Clay County won the girls district title on Monday. Central Magnet (183) claimed second place in the team standings, while Upperman (205) earned the final team spot by edging DeKalb County (207). Pickett County (213) and Livingston Academy (238) rounded out the team scores. The DeKalb girls team was made up of Mallory Sullivan and Brooke Roller. "Brooke came up just a little bit short. She came up two strokes short of moving on," said Coach Cope.

The region tournament is slated for next Monday at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in Chattanooga.

Tigers Prevail in Homecoming Catfight with Hixson

The Tiger football team ran their season record to 6-0 with a 42-13 homecoming victory over the Hixson Wildcats Friday night in Smithville.

The Wildcats mounted a 61 yard scoring drive to start the game. With 6:31 left in the first period, Hixson quarterback Gil Brown threw a 15 yard touchdown pass to Bradley Kedrick. The P.A.T. by Jeffery Walker was good and the visitors led 7-0.

The Tigers tied the game with 4:32 left in the first period on a 14 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lucas Phillips to Sonni Fullilove. The P.A.T. by Ben Driver was good and the score was 7-7.

With 36 seconds to go in the first period, Fullilove scored again, this time on a 23 yard touchdown pass play from quarterback Lucas Phillips. Ben Driver's P.A.T. try was good and DC led 14-7.

Chris Chapman scored on a four yard touchdown run with 7:15 left in the second period. The P.A.T. by Ben Driver was good and the Tigers led 21-7.

Ben Driver attempted a 26 yard field goal but failed to connect with 3:41 left in the second period and the score remained 21-7.

The black and gold extended its lead with 1:37 left in the second period as quarterback Lucas Phillips found Will Molander on a 30 yard touchdown pass play. Ben Driver's P.A.T. attempt was good and the score was 28-7.

Hixson got on the board again with 8:18 left in the third period on a 28 yard pass play from quarterback Gil Brown to Allante Novene. The P.A.T. try by Jeffery Walker was no good but the Wildcats cut the Tiger lead to 28-13.

But on the ensuing kick-off, Will Molander returned the pigskin 88 yards for a Tiger touchdown. The P.A.T. try by Ben Driver was good and the Tigers were on top 35 to 13.

The Tigers' last score of the night came on a 50 yard touchdown pass play from quarterback Lucas Phillips to Sonni Fullilove. The P.A.T. by Ben Driver was good and DeKalb County went on to win 42 to 13.

Saints Win at Westmoreland

The DeKalb Saints got a road win at Westmoreland Thursday night, beating the Eagles 18-12

The Saints took a 6-0 lead in the 1st quarter
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Each teamed scored in the 2nd quarter giving the Saints a 12 to 6 halftime lead.

The Saints scored their last touchdown of the game in the 3rd quarter to take an 18-6 lead.

Westmoreland added one more score in the 4th quarter but it would not be enough as the Saints went onto win 18 to 12.

The Saints are now 5 and 1 and will travel to Baxter Thursday September 27th to face Cornerstone. Kick off will be 6:30 p.m.

(Story contributed by Todd Van Dyne)

Lions hang on to win FHU Fall Invitational

After a difficult spring season, the Freed-Hardeman Lion golf team showed signs of a complete turn-around in its first competition of the fall.

The Lions held off Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College in tough scoring conditions to post a four-shot victory in the Freed-Hardeman Fall Invitational at Covington Country Club with scores of 301-313.

FHU took a three-shot lead into the final round, which was played in 15-20 MPH winds. The first day was played in a steady rainfall for much of the front nine.

Freshman Zack Morton (75-77) won low medalist honors on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff after he drained a downhill 25-footer for birdie to edge out Chris Fletcher of Martin Methodist, who narrowly missed a birdie putt on the same hole.

FHU senior Bryant Cashion (76-76) was also in the playoff but was eliminated on the first hole.

Travis Ross also medaled for Freed-Hardeman, moving up six spots on the final day to take fifth places with scores of 78-77.

First-round leader Grant James (72-84) and Cody Harrington (78-78) both tied for sixth place. Jonathan West (79-83) tied for 15th while Carson Wiley (77-86) tied for 17th.

On Monday, Lincoln Stemler made the third hole-in-one in school history when he aced the 180-yard eighth hole. He shot 85-95 for the event.

Morton led the field in Par 4 scoring and in total birdies, and was second in Par 5 scoring. Stemler led the field in Par 3 scoring. Harrington was second in total pars and Cashion was third in total birdies.

The Lions play again on Oct. 1-2 in a match-play series against Blue Mountain (Miss.) College. BMC comfortably won last year's event, 9.5-2.5.

Team Scores
1. Freed-Hardeman (301-313=614)
2. Martin Methodist (304-214=618)
3. Christian Brothers (314-321=635)
4. Lyon College (336-325=661)

Belmont Women's Golf Places Third at Murray State; Sullivan Finishes Third Individually

The Belmont women's golf team finished in third place at this week's Drake Creek Invitational hosted by Murray State at the Drake Creek Golf Club in Murray, Kentucky.

The Bruins posted a team score of 318 in Tuesday's final round to finish in third place with a 54-hole score of 919. Central Arkansas won the team title with a score of 906, while Arkansas State placed second at 911.

Belmont had three players finish among the top-20. Junior Shay Sullivan, who led the tournament after day one, finished in third place. She posted a 79 on Tuesday to finish with a three-round score of 223. Her third place finish tied a career-best for the Smithville, Tennessee native. Senior Janet Steen tied for 13th place at 229, after carding an 80 in the final round. Sophomore Sydney Hudson shot a 81 on Tuesday to finished tied for 19th place at 232.

Other Belmont finishers from the tournament included: sophomore Evin Edens (T-26th, 236) and senior Patricia Masick (T-50th, 255)).

Junior Morgan McQuary competed as an individual to finish tied for 50th at 255.

The women's golf team will take almost a month off before returning to action on October 15-16 when they compete at the Austin Peay Intercollegiate.

Tigers' Record Still Perfect After Big District Win Over Owls

After blowout wins in the their first four games, the DeKalb County Tigers faced their toughest test of the season Friday night and passed with flying colors against the Smith County Owls, winning 32 to 13.

It was the 500th football game in school history for DCHS and the first victory over the Owls since an 18-0 shutout in 1995 at Carthage. The last time the Tigers beat the Owls in Smithville was 1981. Smith County still leads the series 22-8. Because of district realignments, the two teams have not always played each other every year. The annual rivalry was renewed in 2009.

Smith County scored first with 9:52 left in the opening quarter on a pass reception to Jalen Manning covering 52 yards for a touchdown. The P.A.T. by Jared Kent was good and the Owls led 7-0.

The Tigers answered with 8:29 left in the first period on a six yard touchdown pass play from quarterback Lucas Phillips to Will Molander. Ben Driver's P.A.T. was good and the game was tied at 7-7.

Late in the first period, the Tigers had a first and goal on the one yard line but lost yardage back to the 22 yard line in the drive on a high snap over the head of quarterback Lucas Phillips. Ben Driver was called upon to try a 39 yard field goal, but the kick was no good.

After recovering a DC fumble at the Tiger 39 yard line, the Owls cashed in a couple of plays later when Jalen Manning scored on a 31 yard touchdown run. The P.A.T. try failed but Smith County led 13-7 with 8:48 left in the second quarter.

After a Smith County turnover, the Tigers drove to the Owl one yard line and quarterback Lucas Phillips capped it on a quarterback sneak for a touchdown with 21 seconds left in the half. The P.A.T try by Driver was no good but the game was tied at 13-13.

The Tigers blew the game open in the second half. With 2:39 to go in the third period, Devonta Milan scored on a 70 yard punt return. Driver's P.A.T. kick was good and DeKalb County had its first lead of the night 20-13.

With 8.3 seconds left in the third period, the Tigers jumped out front 26-13 on a three yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lucas Phillips to Sonni Fullilove. The P.A.T. try by Driver was no good.

After a 38 yard Chris Chapman interception return, the Tigers scored their last touchdown with 9:55 left in the game on a two yard pass from quarterback Lucas Phillips to Will Molander. The P.A.T. try by Driver was no good but DeKalb County was up and went onto win 32 to 13.

With the win, the Tigers improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in district play. Smith County drops to 3-2 on the season and to 0-2 in the district.

Next Friday night, the Tigers will host Hixson for Homecoming. Kick-off is set for 7:00 p.m. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.