September 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Tigers gave up two Watertown touchdowns in the first half but shut out the Purple Tigers the rest of the way for a 26 to 14 victory in Smithville Friday night.
DeKalb County (3-1) will travel to Crossville next Friday night, September 16 to meet the Cumberland County Jets (0-4) in a Region matchup. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE coverage. With the loss Watertown drops to 1-3.
Both touchdowns by Watertown were the result of Tiger miscues.
In the first period, DeKalb County’s Tyler Estes picked off a Watertown pass but the ensuing Tiger drive stalled forcing a punt attempt. Nolan Gottlied was poised to receive the punt but the snap got by him. As the Purple Tigers were closing in, Gottlied picked up the ball and threw it down field where Watertown’s Kaiden West was waiting. West picked off the pass and returned it 35 yards for a Purple Tiger touchdown. Kicker Trey Pack booted the extra point and Watertown led 7-0 with 6:45 left in the 1st period.
Early in the 2nd period Watertown started a drive on the DeKalb County 24-yard line after another mishandled Tiger punt attempt. Kaiden West scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to complete the drive and with Trey Pack’s extra point, Watertown led 14-0 with 7:55 left in the 1st half.
DeKalb County got on the scoreboard with 45 seconds left before halftime on the strength of a 35-yard field goal by kicker Juan Ortega. The score was 14-3.
Watertown fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and the Tigers recovered at the Purple Tiger 23-yard line. DC tried to draw closer on a 40-yard field goal attempt, but Ortega’s kick was blocked as time wound down.
In the 4th period, Tiger running back Colby Barnes scored on a 15-yard touchdown run with 11:50 left. DC was then stopped on a 2-point conversion attempt, but the Watertown lead was cut to 14-9.
After a Purple Tiger fumble, DeKalb County took over at the Watertown 30-yard line. Soon after Tiger Malachi Trapp scored on a 24-yard touchdown run followed by a successful 2-point conversion play on a keeper from quarterback Jordan Parker and with 10:47 left in the game, DeKalb County got its first lead at 17 to 14.
The Tigers added a safety to make the score 19 to 14 after a high snap on a Watertown punt attempt which went over the kicker’s head and he was tackled trying to run it out of the endzone with 2:50 left in the game.
DeKalb County put the game away on the ensuing free kick with 2:38 left as Malachi Trapp raced 70 yards for the final touchdown. Ortega tacked on the extra point and DeKalb County went onto win 26-14.
Also of note, Tiger Tyler Estes got his second interception of the game in the waning moments.