Sports

Tigers State Playoff Run Ends with Loss to Nolensville

Although it was a much closer game than last year, the Nolensville Knights have again denied the DeKalb County Tigers from advancing in the TSSAA Class 4A Football Playoffs.

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The Knights won Friday night’s second round playoff game over the Tigers 24-17 in Smithville. A year ago the Knights beat the Tigers 42-6 in the quarterfinals of the playoffs at Nolensville.

The season ends for the Tigers at 7-5 although one of the losses was not on the field but a COVID-19 forfeit to Cumberland County. The 2020 Tigers made history by being the first DCHS football team to win a regular season region championship and the first to host back to back state playoff football games in Smithville.

The Tigers got the first points of the game on 2 yard touchdown run by Desmond Nokes with 3:38 left in the 1st period capping a 98 yard drive. Jasper Kleparek came on for the extra point and DeKalb County led 7-0.

Nolensville answered on an 11 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryder Galardi to Parker Price with 11:52 left in the 2nd period. Reese Miller added the extra point and the game was tied at 7-7.

DeKalb County reclaimed the lead on a 20 yard field goal by Kleparek with 5:55 left in the 2nd period. The score was 10-7 in favor of the Tigers.

After an interception by Isaac Knowles, DC took over on offense and extended its lead on a touchdown pass from quarterback Axel Aldino to Isaac Knowles covering 47 yards for the score. Kleparek tacked on the extra point and DeKalb County held a 17-7 advantage with 3:21 left in the first half.

The Knights pulled to within 3 with 40 seconds to go before halftime on a 14 yard touchdown run by Samson Johnson. Miller converted the extra point and Nolensville cut the Tiger lead to 17-14.

Nolensville tied the game at 17-17 on a 34 yard field goal by Miller with 6 minutes left in the 3rd period and then scored the go ahead touchdown with 8:21 left in the 4th period on a 24 yard pass from Galardi to Chance Fitzgerald. Miller added the extra point and the Knights went on to win 24-17.

The Tigers threatened late in the game but Desmond Nokes was stopped 2 yards short of the goal line on a 4th down pass.

Nolensville will travel to Tullahoma next Friday night for the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. Tullahoma is unbeaten at 12-0 and ranked #2 in the state. The Wildcats eliminated Marshall County 35-7 Friday night.




Trapp Earns Region Football Coach of Year Honors While Aldino Named MVP

Seventeen DCHS Football players have earned 2020 All-Region honors including Tiger Quarterback Axel Aldino who has been named Most Valuable Player in Region 3, Class 4A.

Aldino is joined by Tiger Wide Receiver Desmond Nokes, the region’s Co-Offensive MVP with Macon County’s Running Back Ethan Jenkins, and Tiger Linebacker Isaiah Harrington, the Defensive MVP.

Tiger Coach Steve Trapp is the Region’s Coach of the Year while members of his staff earned the following region honors: Offensive Assistant Coach Michael Shaw, Defensive Assistant Coach Thomas Cagle, and Special Teams Coach Corey Rathbone.

Other Tiger players with Region honors are as follows:
Most Outstanding Defensive Back: Isaac Knowles
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Caven Ponder
Most Outstanding Wide Receiver: TJ Alexander
Most Outstanding Kicker: Jasper Kleparek

All Region 1st Team: Evan Jones, Peyton Leaf, Diego Coronado, Bryan Portillo, Ean Jones, and Aiden Curtis

All Region 2nd Team: Colby Barnes, Josh May, Antwon McCoy, and Wil Ferris.




Tigers Cleared to Play Football

Disappointment has turned to delight for DCHS Tiger football coaches, players, and fans as the team has been cleared to compete in the first round of the TSSAA play-offs next Friday night, November 6 at home against Spring Hill.

The announcement came Friday.

“The Board of Education is allowing us to contact trace within the football program the same way that contact tracing is done within the school and now we are cleared to start back practice on Monday, November 2,” said Tiger Coach Steve Trapp.

Earlier in the week, the Tigers learned that the season would have to prematurely end due to a COVID-19 case within the program.

The game against Cumberland County Friday night, which would have been senior night, had to be canceled due to the earlier decision.

While Coach Trapp is happy to be able to resume play, he is stressing that the safety of everyone is of utmost importance. “If everybody had not been comfortable with everybody being safe then we would not be doing this,” he said.

As the Region 3 champs from Class 4A, the Tigers (6-3, 3-0) will play host to Spring Hill (3-7, 2-3), the 4th place team in Region 4. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. and WJLE plans LIVE coverage




DeKalb Saints Football Players and Cheerleaders Awarded at Banquet

The DeKalb Saints Football Team and Cheerleaders celebrated their accomplishments this season during an awards banquet held Friday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center.

Ty Webb and Axel Aranda were named Co-Most Valuable Saints Football Players while Annabella Dakas received the Most Valuable Football Cheerleader award.

“We decided to award Co-MVP’s this year. I feel like these two guys left it all on the field. They busted their tails each and every day and it has been an honor to coach them. I believe they have big futures in football if they stick with it and work hard,” said Saints Coach Justin Poteete.

The Saints recently completed a 6-3 campaign.

Coach Poteete said while the season didn’t turn out quite the way he had hoped the program managed to overcome adversities including COVID-19 concerns.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming in as far as kids who were going to play. We had 43 kids in the beginning who signed up to play but then the Coronavirus concern started and we wound up with 22 players and they contributed to our program and showed up each and every day. I am just blessed we were able have a season. At times we didn’t look our best while at other times we looked pretty good. We went 6 and 3 and didn’t accomplish what we wanted to but we had a chance and put ourselves out there. To our 8th graders I just want to say you left your mark and you set the foundation for the next group coming up,” said Coach Poteete

Football Award Winners:
Ty Webb (Co-Most Valuable Player and All-Conference)
Axel Aranda (Co-MVP and All-Conference)
Andrew Dakas (Defensive Player of Year and All-Conference)
Jordan Parker (Offensive Player of the Year and All-Conference)
Alex Lemons (Best Lineman and All-Conference)
Wyatt Carter (Most Improved),
Wesley Kent (Saints Award for Best Model Player On and Off the Field)

Football Cheerleader Award Winners:
Annabella Dakas (Most Valuable Cheerleader)
Allison Estes (Most Improved)
Lily McDerman (Best Jumps)
Deanna Agee (Best Dancer)
Madeline Martin (Outstanding Leadership)
Macy Anderson (Most Spirited)
Brylee Kirby (Best Attitude)




Aldino Selected for TACA All-Star Combine

DCHS Senior Quarterback Axel Aldino has been selected to participate in the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Combine in December.

This event replaces the East-West All-Star game this year due to the COVID-19 virus. It will take place at Oakland High School on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.

Aldino has led the Tigers in compiling a 6-3 record and the program’s first ever regular season region championship at 3-0. Aldino has rushed for 10 touchdowns and thrown for 21 TD’s this season.

The All-Star Combine, in the NFL-styled combine, is designed to help high school football seniors showcase their talents on the gridiron, and is the latest project developed by the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association. The day-long event is scheduled to take place at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, Dec. 9. No less than 100 of the state’s top senior players will be selected by high school coaches this fall to participate in the event.

TSSAA’s COVID-19 regulations and guidelines will play a major role in the combine.

Every measure will be used to help ensure the safety of both coaches and players throughout the experience.

“For many years, our organization (T.A.C.A.) has sponsored the state’s premier all-star game,” explained Bill Marbet, TACA’s Executive Director. “We’ve hosted 88 of the state’s top senior football players at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville at our annual East-West All-Star Classic,” added Marbet.

This year’s corona virus, however, has made it extremely difficult to host an all-star game. But the virus has not stopped the high school coaching organization from doing all it can to help senior football players gain a college education through the game they all love.

“Most of the camps and combines that generally give high school players an opportunity to show off their abilities on the football field were not held this past spring and summer,” continued Marbet.

“We plan on having some of the most highly sought after players in our state in attendance at this event,” Marbet went on to say. “But the combine will also have in attendance several other players who all-to-often slip through the cracks where the recruiting game is concerned. It’s our goal to showcase as many of the state’s top seniors as possible,” he added.

Marbet went on to say that the organization looks forward to returning to Clarksville and Austin Peay State University next year for the 2021 East-West All-Star Classic. “We’re also excited about providing a new event to showcase our state’s top football players. Our goal all along has been to assist these athletes in furthering their education through athletics.”

College coaches from multiple states and multiple levels are expected to be in attendance at the day-long event. Coach Ingle Martin of Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville will head up the West staff. Leading the East staff will be Trey Perry, head coach at Mt. Juliet High School.




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