Eli Cross Named NAIA Football All-American

December 23, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Eli Cross is an All-American!

The former DCHS football standout and three of his teammates at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky have been selected to the Associated Press NAIA All-America Football team.

Cross and Robert Carter each earned first-team honors while Cameron Dukes and Joe Gressette received second-team accolades. Cross and Gressette were recognized as offensive lineman while Carter was mentioned as a defensive back and Dukes as a quarterback.

Cross, a three year All Mid-South Conference player, is a starting left tackle on the offensive line for the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson.

“I was always hoping that I would be able to get All-American ever since I was in college. I never thought I would,” Cross told WJLE Wednesday. “One of my mentors Zack Lawson was an All-American. He was a left tackle for Lindsey Wilson when I was a true freshman. I always looked up to him and wished one day I would be able to become an All-American but never thinking I would but now it’s a reality. It’s really awesome,” said Cross.

Cross has been named twice this calendar year by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) to the Academic All-America NAIA Football First Team and in October Cross was crowned Homecoming King.

“I was nominated for the homecoming king honor because of my work on campus. I am a student ambassador and give tours for the school to high school freshmen, so they nominated me, and the student body voted on it. Alix Castillo of the student ambassadors was crowned the homecoming queen,” added Cross.

Lindsey Wilson won its first ever NAIA National Championship with a 45 to 13 thumping of Northwestern (Iowa) at Grambling State University in Louisiana in the title game on Monday night, May 10 completing an undefeated spring football season at 11-0 including the Mid-South Conference Championship.

This fall the #1 ranked Blue Raiders set out on a quest to repeat as NAIA National Champions in the same calendar year but their dreams were dashed on December 4 as they lost to #3 Grand View (Iowa) 34-28 in the NAIA FCS Semifinal. The loss was the Blue Raiders (12-1) first in 727 days, last falling 34-24 to Marian (Ind.) in the NAIA FCS Semifinals on Dec. 7, 2019. In the 2021 calendar year, the Blue Raiders were 23-1. Undefeated Morningside went on to beat Grand View 38-28 for the NAIA Title on December 18.

“We went undefeated again in the regular season this fall and won the Mid-South Conference again for the third straight season and then won the first two rounds of the play-offs and made it to the semi-finals and lost by a touchdown,” said Cross.

Although disappointed by the loss and the opportunity to win back-to-back national championships in the same calendar year, Cross said the Blue Raiders had their chances.

“We didn’t execute the best. It was there offensively and defensively. On defense we probably gave up more points than we had the whole year, but they still made critical stops at the end of the game. Offensively we couldn’t get it going. At the beginning we got down 14-0 to start the game but by halftime we were leading 21-20 so we had a chance. We had the ball at the end of the game in the red zone, but we couldn’t convert,” Cross continued.

According to the Associated Press, Cross and Gressette earned NAIA All-America honors for spearheading a lethal offensive attack that posted the third-highest scoring average in the NAIA at 45.1 points per game. Their work upfront led to 463.6 yards per game – the eighth-best average in the NAIA – as the Blue Raiders recorded 2,894 rushing yards and 3,133 passing yards in a balanced attack.

Carter was nominated after a season that included a career-high eight interceptions for 68-yards, including three in a row in a 34-2 victory over No. 4-ranked Keiser (Fla.) setting a new single-game program record for the most interceptions from a single player. In addition to setting a program record, Carter’s eight interceptions also ties for the most in the NAIA this season. Carter contributed 39 total tackles, 12 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in 13 games for the Blue Raiders this season.

Because of his having been redshirted as a freshman and the spring season not counting against his eligibility, Cross, son of Tony and Shelly Cross of Smithville, plans to continue his collegiate football career for another season at Lindsey Wilson.

“Had there been no COVID pandemic this would have been my last season but because of that I can play another season”.

Cross, a 2017 DCHS graduate, has already completed four years of college at Lindsey Wilson and earned a business administration degree with an emphasis in management and a minor in psychology. He is now working on his master’s degree in Business Administration having completed his first semester.

December 22, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Lady Tigers (7-5) emerged as the top team in the consolation bracket of the Heritage Christmas Tournament at Maryville Wednesday after defeating the Grace Christian Rams of Knoxville (1-11) 55 to 28 in the consolation finals. Knoxville Catholic (8-4) won the tournament beating Heritage (11-2) 48 to 46.

The Lady Tigers return home for the Christmas holiday and will compete in the AFLAC Shootout at Watertown next Tuesday through Thursday.

In the game with Grace Christian Wednesday, DeKalb County led 11 to 8 after the 1st period, 29 to 13 at halftime, and 44 to 17 after the 3rd period enroute to a 55 to 28 final.

Avery Agee scored 10 followed by Kadee Ferrell, Ella VanVranken, and Dare Collins each with 8, Natalie Snipes 6, Ally Fuller 5, Cam Branin 4 and Bryna Pelham and Madison Martin each with 3.

The Lady Tigers opened play in the Maryville tournament Monday with a 61 to 31 loss to Knoxville Catholic but then defeated Cosby 52 to 45 on Tuesday to get to the consolation finals with Grace Christian on Wednesday.

The Lady Tigers will meet Community on Tuesday, December 28 at 6 p.m.; Gallatin on Wednesday, December 29 at 3 p.m.; and Pearl Cohn on Thursday, December 30 at 3 p.m. in the Watertown Tournament.

The Tigers will also compete in the Watertown Tournament against Seigel on Tuesday, December 28 at 4:30 p.m. and against Community on Wednesday, December 29 at 4:30 p.m.

December 22, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Farm Bureau has announced the retirement of two long time employees.

Agency Manager Bart Lay and Customer Service Representative Gloria Pinegar are stepping down after a combined 81 years of service to the Farm Bureau.

Lay is a 36-year veteran with the company including 21 years in Smithville and Pinegar is completing 45 years of service here.

“Bart and Gloria have been fortunate to work with many fine people in many different walks of life. Bart and Gloria feel that from a professional and personal standpoint, it has truly been a pleasure working with each of you. We are confident the DeKalb Farm Bureau will continue providing the kind of service that is right for you. We value the confidence you have placed in us through the years. We pray many blessings in the New Year,” said DeKalb Farm Bureau in a statement on behalf of Lay and Pinegar.

The Office Staff of DeKalb County Farm Bureau going forward include Agents Ryan Magness and Chris Griffith, Customer Service Reps Jessica Cripps and Amanda Cunningham, and new Agency Manager Bradley Locke.

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