Bradley Miller Named Tiger Football MVP, Breanna Gibson MVC

January 28, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Bradley Miller, a senior, was named Most Valuable Player of the 2017 DCHS Tiger Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building.

The MVP trophy was presented to Miller by Coach Steve Trapp.

“This guy has played a lot of football for us this year as a senior. I don’t think he came off the field a whole lot. He was on special teams, defense, and offense. We put him in as running back in a couple of games. He returned kicks and punts. Last year as a junior he probably had the best defensive back year ever as a DCHS football player but he didn’t have as many opportunities this year because people just wouldn’t throw at him. Last year he was All-State in different areas and pre-season All State this year. He is a tremendous high school football player,” said Coach Trapp.

In addition to his MVP trophy, Miller was named Most Outstanding Defensive Back in Region 3 Class 4A

The Tiger football team finished the season in November with an overall record of 3-8 and another appearance in the state play-offs. The Tigers lost in the first round of the TSSAA Class 4A Football Play-Offs at Lewisburg to Marshall County on November 4. The final score was 42-0.

Meanwhile, Breanna Gibson, a senior, was named Most Valuable Cheerleader at the football banquet Saturday night. The presentation was made by Cheer Coach Amanda Fuller.

“This girl is beautiful inside and out. She is brilliant. She works hard. She is very calm. Slow to anger. She leads by example and has pushed herself very hard for four years to become the awesome cheerleader that she is today. She is a perfect example of what a cheerleader should be and although she had an injury this season she was still at all the practices and games leading her team. She was an NCA All American nominee and was asked this year to join the NCA staff which is a great and rare honor. She has been a true blessing to this squad for four years,” said Coach Fuller.

Other individual Football Player Awards are as follows:

Offensive Player of the Year- Tyler Cantrell
Offensive Lineman- Gage Delape
Offensive Back- David Bradford
Receiver- Braxton Linder
Defensive Player of the Year- Jesse Smith
Defensive Lineman- Isaac Cross
Linebacker- Nick May
Defensive Back- Grayson Redmon
Special Teams Player- Andrew Fuson
Most Improved- Peyton Leaf
MVP- Bradley Miller
Coach Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award-Nick May

Coach Trapp presented awards to eight members of the team and an assistant coach for earning All Region 3 Class 4A Honors including the following:

Most Outstanding Tight End: Braxton Linder
Most Outstanding Returner: Paxton Butler
Most Outstanding Defensive Back: Bradley Miller
DCHS Assistant Coach Thomas Cagle received Special Teams Coach of the Year in Region 3

Named to the All Region 1st Team from DCHS are:
Jesse Smith, Nick May, and Gage Delape

Named to the All Region 2nd Team from DCHS are:
Tyler Cantrell and David Bradford.

Individual Cheer Awards are as follows:

Best Stunts- Alley Sykes
Most Spirited- Breanna Gibson
Best Jumps- Kiersten Griffith
Best Dancer-Katherine Malone
Best Cheer-Allison Maynard
MVC- Breanna Gibson
DEAR (Dedication, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Responsibility)-Shaunta Koegler

January 27, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Mary Alice Carfi is planning to make another run for the State Senate in District 17. She picked up her qualifying petition Friday at the Wilson County Election Commission.

State Senator Mark Pody obtained his petition earlier this month from the Wilson County Election Commission.

Carfi narrowly lost to Pody in the special election in December to serve out the unexpired term of former State Senator Mae Beavers.

But if there is to be a rematch in November, both Carfi and Pody must win their respective Primaries on August 2.

Candidates wishing to run for State Senate in District 17 must qualify for the Tennessee Democratic and Republican Primaries by noon on April 5. That also goes for candidates seeking to run for the State House in Districts 40 & 46 as well as for Governor, Congressman in the 6th District, and the U.S. Senate.

Meanwhile in DeKalb County while no new petitions were picked up Friday, four candidates filed their petitions which have been verified including Nicole Wright for Circuit Court Clerk, Wayne Cantrell for 4th District County Commissioner (incumbent), and Beth Pafford for 7th District County Commissioner all running in the May 1 DeKalb County Democratic Primary; and Randy Paris, an independent candidate for County Mayor who will be running in the August 2 DeKalb County General Election.

Both Nicole Wright and Mark Milam are now in the race for the Democratic Nomination for Circuit Court Clerk. The winner will likely face Republican Susan Martin in the August 2 DeKalb County General Election, though Martin’s nomination is not official until the DeKalb County GOP Caucus on Sunday, February 11. Other candidates still have time to enter the race.

In the 4th District, Incumbent Wayne Cantrell and Bobby Taylor have filed their petitions and been verified as candidates for the County Commission. They are seeking the Democratic Nomination on May 1. Two Democrats and two Republicans can be nominated from each district. Dr. Scott Little also has a petition to run for the County Commission in the 4th district in the Democratic Primary but he has not yet filed it with the election commission. Republican Greg Matthews has announced his candidacy for the County Commission in the 4th district, subject to his being nominated by the DeKalb GOP caucus on February 11.

In the 7th District, Beth Pafford is the first candidate to file her qualifying petition to run for the County Commission in the May 1 Democratic Primary. Incumbents Larry Summers and Kevin Robinson have obtained petitions to run for re-election for the County Commission in the 7th district but they have not yet filed them with the election commission. Republican Bruce Malone has announced his candidacy for the County Commission in the 7th district, subject to his being nominated by the DeKalb County GOP Caucus on February 11.

Randy Paris is now formally in the race for County Mayor. He will be running against the Democratic nominee in the County General Election on August 2. No Republican has announced a candidacy for the office. Three contenders are in the race for the Democratic Nomination for County Mayor on May 1 including Incumbent Tim Stribling, former County Mayor Mike Foster, and 3rd District County Commissioner Bradley Hendrix. All three have filed their petitions and been verified as candidates.

The deadline is Noon February 15 to qualify for the offices of County Mayor, Sheriff, Road Supervisor, County Clerk, Circuit Court Clerk, Register of Deeds, and Trustee as well as the county commission (two seats from each of the seven districts in the county).

January 26, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

It was a homecoming of sorts at DeKalb County High School Friday night as fellow class and teammates of Tiger basketball legend Jerry “Red” Foster returned to their alma mater in a show of support for him and to witness the retirement of his high school jersey number 32.

A large crowd including family, friends, and students turned out for the ceremony honoring Foster which took place between games as DCHS hosted Cannon County, a border rivalry which in itself always draws a host of basketball fans.

“I am honored. Its something that you never expect to happen but I am glad to see it happen. It was just great to see as many people turn out as they did tonight. A lot of my classmates were here and it was really great to see them show up. A lot of them came from a pretty good distance away,” said Foster who spoke with WJLE after the ceremony.

“I had a wonderful career. I played for three college coaches and two professional coaches, but my high school coach Harold Luna was probably the best coach I ever played for,” Foster added.

Foster, who is now battling cancer and is in treatment, remains optimistic.

“I’m doing pretty good. My immune system is a little low right now but I’ve got the chemotherapy and radiation over with and I will go back February 7 to have a (CAT) scan and consultation with my oncologist and find out where we go from here. I’ve got a got a good feeling. I think the Lord is going to take care of me,” said Foster.

Foster was joined at center court by Tiger teammates Danny Foutch, Kevin James, and Rick Usrey, who are themselves basketball stars, along with their old high school coach Harold Luna, who was overcome by emotion during the ceremony. The crowd gave Foster and his friends a rousing cheer, extended applause, and a standing ovation. A banner with his name and number will be hung in the gym to recognize #32 Jerry “Red” Foster as one of the greatest players to ever wear a Tiger jersey.

Foster excelled in basketball at an early age and went on to become a star athlete on the high school, college, and professional level. After his playing days, Foster was a high school basketball coach for several years. In recent years, he has been a physical education teacher at Northside Elementary School.

Jerry’s basketball career began at College Street Junior High School under the late Coach Elzie McBride and later at DCHS under former Coach Harold Luna. He starred as a member of the Tiger basketball team from 1972-76. During his time at DCHS, Foster was a part of over 80 wins. He was named All-District, All-Region, Upper Cumberland MVP, 1st team All-State, and was named the Class AA Player of the Year in 1976. He was selected to play in the East/ West All Star game that same year.

After leaving DCHS, Jerry went on to star at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee. As a member of the Bethel University basketball team from 1976-80, he scored 1,879 points and grabbed 1,440 rebounds earning 1st Team All Conference in both his junior and senior years as well as being named an NAIA All American after his senior year.

Jerry was then selected in the 4th round of the 1980 NBA draft by the New York Knicks and later signed a professional contract in the European League. After two professional seasons in South America, he decided to end his basketball career.

After his playing days, Foster stayed in the game of basketball through his love of coaching. He returned to DCHS, as freshman boys’ coach from 1983-89 compiling a 92-22 record. He then moved to Jackson County High School as head boys’ coach from 1989-93 compiling a 101-87 record in four seasons, before returning once again to DCHS to direct the Lady Tiger basketball program, a position he held for seven years, from 1993-2000 with his teams recording a 93-85 record.

After leaving the coaching ranks, he continued to teach physical education at Northside Elementary School and continues to teach the game of basketball to youth of DeKalb County through the after school program.