January 13, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
The White County Warriors and the Gordonsville Tigers will join the 2023 DCHS Football schedule replacing Goodpasture and Cannon County.
DeKalb County had no choice but to add White County which is leaving Class 5A, Region 5 and stepping down to Class 4A, Region 4 in 2023.
With the addition of White County, the former six team 4A region, will be made up of seven teams as the Warriors join DeKalb County, Upperman, Livingston Academy, Stone Memorial, Macon County, and Cumberland County which have already been part of the 4A region.
The TSSAA released its initial football region alignments for the 2023 and 2024 seasons in November.
Tiger Coach Steve Trapp said an already competitive region will become even more challenging with the addition of White County.
“Our region slate got a little larger. White County actually dropped down a classification. They were in 5A last year and they are now in 4A so all of our region teams stayed the same except we have added White County. Although they are new to our schedule they are not new to us playing them. We have played them for several years in the past but it’s another quality football team joining the region so now you have to win at least three region games to make it to the state playoffs which makes it a more challenging road than before. We will have them (White County) and Upperman at the end of the regular season so it will most likely come right down to the wire,” said Coach Trapp.
DeKalb County’s non-region schedule will include Warren County, in the season opener at McMinnville on August 18; Smith County in Smithville on August 25; Watertown on the road September 8, and Gordonsville in Smithville for Homecoming on September 15.
Gone from the 2023 schedule are Goodpasture, which had been a Tiger opponent for the last two years, and perennial border rival Cannon County, who elected not to schedule DeKalb County in 2023.
“Cannon County did not want to play us anymore. That was a decision on their end. I really hate that because it was a good game financially for both teams. We have played each other many times but that was a decision they made,” said Coach Trapp.
Although DeKalb County has often scrimmaged Gordonsville and played them in pre-season Jamborees this will be the first meeting between the programs on the gridiron during a regular season game in several years. “That is a quality opponent, and we will have them for Homecoming,” added Coach Trapp.
The season kicks off on Friday, August 18 at Warren County followed by the home opener August 25 against Smith County.
All games start at 7:00 p.m.
WJLE will have LIVE coverage each week.
The DCHS 2023 Football Schedule is as follows:
REGION OPPONENTS (*)
August 18: Warren County- McMinnville 7 p.m.
August 25: Smith County-Smithville 7 p.m.
September 1: Livingston Academy*-Smithville 7 p.m.
September 8: Watertown-Watertown 7 p.m.
September 15: Gordonsville (Homecoming)- Smithville 7 p.m.
September 22: Stone Memorial*-Away 7 p.m.
September 29: Macon County*-Smithville 7 p.m.
October 6: Cumberland County*-Smithville 7 p.m.
October 13: BYE WEEK
October 20: White County*-Sparta 7 p.m.
October 27: Upperman* Baxter 7 p.m.
The Tigers will also compete in a pre-season Jamboree at Smith County on August 11.