August 27, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
Another nail biter!
With the game tied at 14 and only four seconds left, DeKalb County’s kicker Juan Ortega split the uprights on a 31-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 17-14 victory over the Smith County Owls at Carthage Friday night.
In the season opener the previous week, DeKalb County came from behind with just over a minute left in the game to defeat the Warren County Pioneers 35-34 in Smithville.
DeKalb County (2-0) will host Macon County (2-0) in a rare Thursday night game (September 1) in Smithville which will be the season region opener for both teams. Macon County has defeated East Robertson 43-33 and Westmoreland 20-15.
Smith County scored its first touchdown of the night on a 14-yard run by Jamison Keeley with 9:23 left in the 1st period completing a 74-yard drive. Johnny Lyda converted the PAT and the Owls led 7-0.
DeKalb County answered with 5:15 left in the 1st period on a 3-yard touchdown run by Colby Barnes completing a 73-yard drive. Juan Ortega added the extra point, and the game was tied at 7-7.
Early in the 2nd period Smith County took the lead on a 21-yard pass play from Kaden Powell to Riley Lollar capping an 80-yard drive. Lyda tacked on the extra point and the Owls led 14-7.
Colby Barnes caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Briz Trapp with 6:27 left in the 3rd period completing a 70-yard drive. Ortega converted the PAT to tie it up at 14-14.
With 1:40 left in the game, the Tiger defense stiffened and stopped the Owls on a 4th & 2 play from the Smith County 40-yard line. DeKalb County took over on downs and moved the ball down to the 14-yard line before Juan Ortega was called upon to deliver the game winning field goal as time expired.