October 3, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Tigers capped off Homecoming Week with a 38-14 win over the Livingston Academy Wildcats Friday night in Smithville.
The Tigers improve to 4-3 on the season and remain tied with Macon County at 2-0 in the race for the regular season region championship. With the loss Livingston Academy drops to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the region.
Livingston Academy’s quarterback Nate Cowgill had a tough night against the black and gold as the Tiger defense intercepted him five times during the game. The first LA turnover came on their first possession as Axel Aldino picked him off setting up a Tiger touchdown five plays later.
Aldino himself scored on an 11 yard quarterback keeper with 7:34 left in the 1st period to give DC an early 7-0 lead along with Jasper Kleparek’s extra point.
After forcing a punt on LA’s second possession, the Tigers scored two plays later on a touchdown pass from Aldino to Isaac Knowles covering 71 yards for a touchdown. Kleparek added the extra point and the Tigers led 14-0 with 4:27 left in the 1st period.
DeKalb County mounted an 88 yard scoring drive in the second period with Aldino finding the endzone on a 1 yard QB keeper with 8:02 left in the half. Kleparek converted the PAT and the Tigers led 21-0.
By halftime DeKalb County had extended its lead to 24-0 after Kleparek knocked home a 21 yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the 2nd period.
The Tigers cashed in on another LA turnover in the 3rd period. After an interception by Desmond Nokes, DC made the Wildcats pay on a 10 yard touchdown run by QB Aldino with 3:33 left Kleparek’s kick was good and the Tigers held a 31-0 advantage.
LA put the ball in the air again in the 4th quarter and Silas Cross was there to pick it off leading to the Tigers final scoring drive of the game. Aldino found Nokes on a 41 yard pass play for a touchdown, capping a 56 yard drive with 11:51 left and with the PAT by Kleparek the Tigers owned a 38-0 lead.
The Wildcats got two touchdowns late in the game. The first on a pass play from Raven Carpenter to Jayden Lawrence covering 66 yards for the score with 8:02 left in the game. The PAT by Mitchell Watson was good and the Tiger lead was trimmed to 38-7.
LA then recovered an on side kick and scored on a 51 yard touchdown pass play from QB Nate Cowgill to Jayden Lawrence with 7:47 left in the game. Watson’s PAT was good but the Tigers went on to win 38-14.
The Tigers will step outside the region Friday night, October 9 for a meeting with the Smith County Owls (2-4) in Carthage. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE coverage.
Class 4A Region 3 standings and team records as of Saturday, October 3:
*DeKalb County: 4-3 (2-0)
*Macon County: 6-1 (2-0)
*Livingston Academy: 5-2 (2-1)
*Cumberland County: 0-6 (0-2)
*Stone Memorial: 2-5 (0-3)