August 21, 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.