Tigers Rally for Come From Behind Win

August 20, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A late touchdown and two-point conversion propelled the DeKalb County Tigers to a come from behind 35 to 34 victory over the Warren County Pioneers in the season opener Friday night in Smithville.

The Tigers (1-0) will travel to Smith County next Friday night, August 26. The Owls will open their season tonight (Saturday) at home against Gordonsville. Warren County (0-1) will be at White County next week. The Warriors defeated Livingston Academy Friday night 48-0.

The Tigers went up 6-0 with 8:04 left in the 1st period as John Ellis covered a Holden Trapp fumble in the endzone. The score was set up on a 33-yard pass play from Quarterback Briz Trapp to Holden Trapp before the ball came loose. The drive covered 61 yards. The extra point attempt failed.

The Pioneers answered on a 76-yard drive as Nate Elrod scored on an 8-yard touchdown run with 2:19 left in the 1st period. Beckham Scott converted the PAT and Warren County took a 7-6 lead.

On the ensuing kick-off Holden Trapp raced 84 yards on the return for a Tiger touchdown with 2:04 left in the 1st period. The two-point conversion attempt failed but DeKalb regained the lead 12-7.

Warren County picked off a DC pass in the second period and started a drive from the Tiger 20-yard line which set up a go-ahead touchdown for the Pioneers on a 5-yard run by Braylon Grayson. Scott added the PAT and the visitors went back out front 14-12 with 5:53 left in the half.

The Pioneers extended their lead to 21-12 on a 7-yard touchdown run by Jaythan Pleasant with 10:05 left in the 3rd period capping a 65-yard drive. Scott tacked on the extra point.

The Tigers threatened later in the 3rd period but fumbled deep in Pioneer territory. The DC defense held to force a punt, but the snap sailed over the Pioneer kicker’s head and out of the endzone for a safety to make it a one score game at 21-14 in favor of Warren County with 3:20 remaining in the quarter.

On the free kick, Holden Trapp scored on a 68-yard return with 3:11 left in the 3rd period and the Tigers trailed 21 to 20 after the failed extra point attempt.

Warren County’s Nate Elrod scored on a touchdown run with 1:22 left in the 3rd period to extend their lead over the Tigers to 27-20. The Pioneers lined up for the PAT but after the Tigers jumped offside Warren County elected to go for the two-point conversion which failed.

The Pioneers recovered a DC fumble on the ensuing kick-off at the Tiger 18-yard line. Dawson Haley then scored on a 6-yard touchdown run with 11:55 in the 4th period to put the visitors on top 34 to 20 after the PAT by Beckham Scott.

DC answered on a 71-yard drive as Quarterback Briz Trapp found Malachi Trapp on a touchdown pass play with 6:46 left in the 4th period. Juan Ortega converted the PAT and the Tigers trailed 34 to 27.

After a stalled Pioneer drive, the Tigers got the ball after a punt on their own 32-yard line and drove it down field for the score on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Briz Trapp to Colby Barnes with 1:04 left in the game. The Tigers lined up for the extra point, but the Pioneers were flagged on an offside penalty, so DC went for and made the two-point conversion by Colby Barnes and DeKalb County went onto win 35 to 34.

August 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers plan to hit the ground running, throwing, or whatever it takes to get a victory as they launch the 2022 football campaign hosting the visiting Warren County Pioneers in the season opener tonight (Friday) in Smithville. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

 https://www.wjle.com/tiger-talk-august-19-2022/

With 12 seniors on the team, Tiger Coach Steve Trapp, who is starting his 18th year, isn’t necessarily concerned about experience but there are key positions that will have to be filled.

“We have a veteran club with a lot of juniors and seniors who have played a lot of football for us so we are anticipating some good football. Our philosophy has always been to do what is going to be successful. If we need to run the ball 30 times a game then that is what we will do. I think Running Back Colby Barnes is up to the task and he will definitely get the ball a lot more than he has in the past. He always split time with Nathaniel Crook the last couple of years but he (Colby) will not come off the field this year unless he needs a breather or whatever. He is a player that the ball is going to go to a lot. He just has to make sure he has that desire and wants to carry his football team while has the ball in his belly,” said Coach Trapp.

“We have three of our four receivers back from last year so there is a lot of experience there also including Josh May who has been a starter for four years and most of that was on defense the last couple of years but he is a guy that can do a lot of things for us. He can play tight end. He can be a standup receiver, come back in the backfield and he has great vision. When he has the ball in his hands he does a really good job. I really see an expanded role for him this year. It might not be on the stat sheet but what he does blocking and getting guys in the right position and the way he leads the defense as a linebacker is really huge for us. I also think John Ellis will have a big year for us. He has that big time playmaking ability. Nolan Gottlied and Holden Trapp played a lot for us last year and Malachi Trapp has moved in here. I think he is a special athlete and is still trying to learn everything so he is doing a good job for us. Briz Trapp, at quarterback is returning so throwing, running it or whatever we need to do offensively I think we can do it. We have three of our offensive linemen back. We have plugged in two guards including Chris Pulley. He is a sophomore and a big guy but he moves really well and keeps getting better each week. Landon Crips is at the other guard position and he is another guy who is improving each week but there is a lot of competition every day to make sure we can keep those spots there. Tyler Estes is our sixth man there if we need him so we have some quality depth. Offensively I really like our opportunities to be a very special offense,” Coach Trapo continued.

“The defense has really been solid going all the way back through spring. Coach Michael Shaw does a great job with those guys and getting them in the right position to make plays. We have some big guys up front. Colby Barnes is the reigning region defensive end of the year and he is a really good running back too. There is a lot of speed and strength on the edge and then we have Shadie Rankhorn in the middle at nose guard and then there’s Wil Ferris and Ean Jones who will play a lot of defense for us. Aaron Hatfield is smaller in stature but he moves really well and gets where he needs to be and it allows the linebackers to be free behind them so there is a lot of depth up front that we can rotate in and out. Linebacker wise, Ari White moves from the nose guard position back to middle linebacker. He and Estes have been playing linebacker together for years and you can tell. We have May on the outside and Johnny Skinner on the outside on the other side and he is doing a great job. Secondary wise is really where we have to replace almost everybody. John Ellis is back. He played corner last year but we moved him in that safety position where Isaac Knowles had been. Ty Webb became a starter there at the end of the year and he is back there again at the other safety position. Our two corners right now are Holden Trapp and Trace Hamilton. They have doing a good job for us so I am really excited about our defense,” said Coach Trapp.

As for tonight’s opponent in the Warren County Pioneers, ”They are going to be a hungry football team,” said Coach Trapp. “Coming off the year they had last year, they went through a lot with COVID and injuries and being a younger football team but a lot of those guys we played against last year are still there. They are a year older, a year stronger and a year wiser so they are a better football team. We don’t take any opponent lightly, but I feel good with how our team has prepared all week. Its going to be a battle out there,” said Coach Trapp.

WJLE’s Pre-Game shows begin with “Coach to Coach” at 5:00 p.m. featuring former UT assistant coach Doug Matthews with former coach Dave McGinnis and broadcaster Larry Stone talking Tennessee and SEC football.
“Coach to Coach” is followed by “Murphy’s Matchups at 6:00 p.m., a look at Tennessee High School Football from Murphy Fair with commentary on games and coaches interviews.

“Tiger Talk” airs at 6:30 p.m. with the Voice of the Tigers John Pryor interviewing Coach Steve Trapp and Tiger football players Colby Barnes, Ean Jones, Josh May, and Tyler Estes.

Kick-off is at 7:00 p.m. with play-by-play coverage on WJLE from the Voice of the Tigers John Pryor and Luke Willoughby. Listen LIVE on WJLE AM 1480/FM 101.7 and LIVE Streaming at www.wjle.com

The DCHS 2022 Football Schedule is as follows:

REGION OPPONENTS (*)
August 19: Warren County- Smithville 7 p.m.
August 26: Smith County-Carthage 7 p.m.
September 1 (THURSDAY): Macon County*-Smithville 7 p.m.
September 9: Watertown-Smithville 7 p.m.
September 16: Cumberland County*- Crossville 7 p.m.
September 23: Cannon County-Woodbury 7 p.m.
September 30: Livingston Academy* (HOMECOMING)-Smithville 7 p.m.
October 14: Upperman*-Baxter 7 p.m.
October 21: Goodpasture-Goodpasture 7 p.m.
October 28: Stone Memorial* Smithville 7 p.m.

WJLE AM/FM will have LIVE coverage of each week’s games and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com.

August 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Members of the “Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour” will sponsor their annual “Art for Kids Day” Saturday, August 20 from 8 a.m. until 12 noon at the DeKalb Farmers Market in support of the School System’s Backpack Program to help feed hungry children.

All the artwork for this annual event is donated and all the money raised from sales goes to the Backpack Program. Instruction will be given to children from age 3 and older on artwork creations they can produce during the event for free to take home whether it be projects involving coloring, painting, paper mache, sculpting etc.