Peewees Avenge Loss, Take Third Place in Championships

The last time the Peewee Tigers met the Smith County Owls in postseason play, the Owls put DeKalb out of the playoffs, winning the conference championship.  The last time the DeKalb Peewees met the Owls this season was on September 27th.  The score, 14-0 in favor of the rival Owls.  That game saw the Tigers turn the ball over 3 times and gain a paltry 52 yards of offense.  The game also saw the Tigers take another crushing defeat to the “Florida” of the Tiger’s “Tennessee”.  And after losing to Monterey the Saturday before, most fans believed Smith County would enter its consolation game versus the Tigers thirsty and fired up to take its revenge out on the Tigers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a way, they were right.  Last Saturday, revenge was given.  However, it was given by the Mighty Tigers.

In what was perhaps the team’s most complete game of the year, DeKalb put up 186 yards of total offense with the Black and Gold Defense forcing a key fumble, en route to a 13-6 thrilling victory for the Tigers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aydan Bean lead the way on offense for the Tigers, scoring once and rushing 6 times for 86 yards.  Bean also shined on defense, leading the team in tackles with 5.

While Bean’s efforts were outstanding in the game, the win was a total team effort.  DeKalb was quick off the ball, productive on offense and hard-hitting and swarming on defense, continually disrupting any offensive flow the Owls tried to maintain.

The game began ominously for the Tigers, as the Owls took their opening drive 70 yards downfield in 6 plays for a touchdown to put the Owls on the board first.  Smith County couldn’t convert the point after though, and half way through the first quarter, DeKalb found itself in a hole, 6-0.

DeKalb would answer.

In perhaps the most impressive drive of their season, quarterback Wesley Kent put together an 11 play 70 yard scoring drive, eating up almost 10 minutes of the clock.  Handing the ball to year long Tiger workhorse, Weston Wright, Wright carried the ball in from 13 yards out to knot the game at 6.  Kent’s extra point attempt would fail though, but with just over 2 minutes left in the half, DeKalb had tied the score at 6.

In perhaps the most critical series of the game, Smith County drove the ball down to the Tiger 13 yard line, but a holding penalty backed the ball up, not only killing the go ahead drive for the Owls, but giving the advantage, and all the momentum, back to the Tigers as DeKalb would receive the ball to begin the second half.

DeKalb couldn’t take advantage of its new found fortune though, and was forced to punt the ball its first series of the half.  Smith County would pick up a first down on the drive, but faced with a 4th and 1, the DeKalb Defensive Line was able to disrupt the quarterback and Aydan Bean stopped the Owls for no gain.

The next play, Bean would make them pay.

Breaking free for 46 yards, Bean took the Kent handoff in for the Tigers’ go ahead score.  This time Kent’s point after attempt was successful and suddenly the Tigers had a lead, 13-6.

They would never give it up.

Both teams would turn their next drive over on downs before Smith County got the ball back late in the fourth quarter deep in Tiger territory poised to make 1 final march for a tying score.

Kholton Melton and Luke Midgett had other plans.

Pushing their way through the center, Midgett knocked the ball free from the Smith County quarterback and Melton dove on it to end the drive and seal the victory for the Tigers.

For the game, behind Bean, Weston Wright had a touchdown and 56 yards for the Tigers and Wesley Kent had 32 yards rushing in the game.

Defensively, Bean led the team with 5 tackles, Midgett ended the game with 3 tackles and a fumble, Weston Wright had two tackles, Melton had a tackle and a fumble recovery in the game and three Tigers, Axel Aranda, Drew Dakas and Ethan Spears each had a tackle.