Young, Junior Tigers Roll, defeat Upperman 27-18

For Konner Young it probably just seemed like another day at the office Saturday when the Junior Tigers took on the Upperman Stingers in Baxter.  Carrying the ball 17 times for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns, Young fueled the potent DeKalb rushing attack that wore down the Stinger Defense.  The Black and Gold Offensive Line, at times, opened up huge gaps that the DC running backs powered through.

Yet it was also the threat of quarterback, Briz Trapp’s arm that held Upperman at bay and allowed DeKalb to control the line of scrimmage.  While he didn’t put up huge numbers, the ever dangerous Trapp to Conner Close threat did put up a score in the game, and perhaps more importantly, kept the defense honest all day long.  The DC offense was efficient, scoring on 4 of its 5 offensive possessions and not turning the ball over on any.

While the offense shined, the Tiger Defense looked good as well.  Giving up basically only three plays of any

substantial yardage, Upperman took advantage of any Tiger misstep in the game.  Led by Alex Lemons, Stetson Agee and Gabe Hollingsworth, the Tigers found the Stinger backfield early and often throughout the contest.

Tiger kicker Trey Crabree was stellar in the game for DeKalb as well.  Repeatly forcing Upperman to start deeper on their side of the field than they would have liked, Crabtree helped the defense keep up the pressure on Upperman all game long.

DeKalb set the tone for the day on its first possession as Briz Trapp put together an impressive 11 play 50 yard drive, culminating in a Conner Close touchdown pass to put the Tigers on the board first.  Young converted the extra point and the Tigers led 7-0.

Upperman would answer two plays later, however, as they converted on a 61 yard pass to find the endzone.  Their PAT attempt would fail, leaving DeKalb clinging to a 1 point lead, 7-6, early in the second quarter.

Stetson Agee would expand the Tigers’ lead immediately thereafter.

Taking the ball around end, Agee would rumble 57 yards all the way to the end zone for a Tiger touchdown.  This time Seth Cantrell would convert the point after and the Tigers expanded their lead to 8, 14-6, going into the break.

After DeKalb stopped the Stingers on their first drive of the second half, DeKalb again put together a long drive ending with a Konner Young touchdown romp from 8 yards out.  DeKalb couldn’t convert its PAT but the damage was done, giving DeKalb what it thought to be a comfortable 14 point lead, 20-6, midway through the third quarter.

It soon proved not to be as comfortable as they would have liked.

Upperman would return the ensuing Tiger kickoff 60 back to chip away at the Tiger lead.  Again faltering on the PAT, DeKalb still led 20-12.

DeKalb put away all doubt in the fourth quarter as the Tigers pounded the ball with Young, putting together a 50 yard scoring drive to put DeKalb’s final points on the scoreboard. Young would convert the PAT and DeKalb expanded its lead back to 15, 27-12, ate in the fourth quarter.

With DeKalb playing its backups, Upperman did manage to put another score on the board but it was too little, too late as DeKalb took the victory in convincing fashion.

 

For the game, Trapp was 1-3 for 9 yards and a touchdown.  Behind Young, Stetson Agee ran 3 times for 67 yards and a touchdown, Ryan Thompson rushed 3 times for 19 yards, and Mason Winter and Seth Cantrell each added 3 yards.  Conner Close had 9 yards and a touchdown receiving in the game.

Defensively, the Tigers were led by Stetson Agee, Gabe Hollingsworth and Alex Lemons, each with 3 tackles.  Ryan Thompson added 2 and Conner Close, Clayton Proctor and Luke Midgett each added 1.

With the win, DeKalb improves to 2-0 on the season and will again travel to Baxter next Saturday to take on Monterey at Cornerstone.

Below are additional images from Saturday’s action.