Tigers open season with a win over the Pioneers

The Tigers opened the 2013 season in the same fashion they opened both the 2011 and 2012 season, with a win over border rival Warren County.  Although the score wasn’t as lopsided as it was the previous two season, the Tigers sill looked very capable in a hard fought victory over the much improved Pioneers, 20-7.

The Tiger defense was impressive in DeKalb’s win at Warren County Friday night.

The Tigers defense proved stellar again, especially in the second half, giving up less than 200 yards of offense to Warren County.  The Black and Gold defense tormented Pioneer quarterback, Hunter Mullican and his entire offense all night, recording two interceptions and a blocked field goal along with numerous sacks throughout the contest.

Freshman Tiger quarterback, Steven Jennings looked impressive in his high school debut, throwing for almost 200 yards with no picks.  The DC running game, behind juniors Devonte Milan and Luke Boss was also effective, gaining more than 100 yards on the ground.

Tiger wide receiver, Dustin Warner making a circus catch in the Tigers’ victory at Warren County last Friday night.

The game didn’t begin exactly the way the Tigers would have liked, however, as the Black and Gold saw the Pioneers march, rather easily, 74 yards down the field behind a 43 yard touchdown bomb to Drew Davidson to put Warren County up early 7-0.

Little did they know, they would never reach the endzone again.

DC looked like it would answer quickly as junior, Dustin Warner returned the Pioneer kickoff all the way to the Warren County 23 yard line.  The Tigers couldn’t get their offense in gear however and was forced to punt.  Freshman kicker, Matthew Poss, pinned the Pioneers back to their own 2 yard line however and Warren County couldn’t manage any offensive threat either.

The Tigers would fumble the ball on their next possession, but again the Tiger defense would hold Warren County in check, forcing a three-and-out to put the Tigers back on offense at their own 21.

Eight plays later, the Tigers were in the endzone.

Tigers’ kicker Matthew Poss was very effective punting the ball for DeKalb County in McMinnville Friday night.

After driving to midfield, Devonte Milan bust open for a 53 yard scoring scamper to put the Tigers on the board.  The extra point missed but the Tigers were on the board, 7-6.

DC would force Warren County to punt again on their next possession, and Steven Jennings would orchestrate one of the Tigers most impressive drives of the night, leading his team on a nine play, 91 yard scoring drive, culminating with a 21 yard pass to junior, Aaron Patterson to put the Tigers in the endzone again.  A.J. Mooneyham would convert on the Tigers’ two point try, and the Tigers would go into the break with a 14-7 lead.

Both teams would punt the ball to each other to begin the second half, but then Warren County would threaten on a 55 yard pass to D’Andre League to put the Pioneers on the doorstep at the 4 yard line.  Warren County would take the next play to the 1 on a run.

They would get no further.

After a false start pushed the Pioneers back to the 6, Lane Ball and Hunter Stone would combine for a huge sack, pushing the Pioneers back to the 15.  The Black and Gold defense flexed again on the next play, blocking the Pioneer field goal try.

Warren County would force the Tigers to punt on their next possession, but the Tiger Defense stiffened again with a Mooneyham pick to put the Tigers in business on the Pioneer 33.

Three plays later, Mooneyham was in the endzone.

The Tiger defensive line.

From eight yards out, Jennings found Mooneyham for a touchdown to expand the Tigers lead to 13.  The PAT would again fail, but the damage was done as the Tigers led 20-7.

That would be more than enough, as the Tiger defense suffocated the Pioneers throughout the rest of the contest to give DeKalb the win to begin their season.

Next week the Tigers will travel to Crossville to take on Stone Memorial, a team that defeated district rival, Livingston Academy Friday night in a slugfest, 6-5.  Game time is 7:00.