DeKalb Saints Kick-Off 2024 Football Season Thursday, August 1 at Home against Fentress County

July 29, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Saints Football team will kick-off the 2024 season Thursday night, August 1 at home hosting Fentress County at 6:30 p.m.

“We should be pretty decent,” said Saints Head Coach Justin Poteete. “A lot of kids that played last year as 7th graders are back this year including running backs, quarterbacks, and a couple of receivers and linemen. We’ll be throwing some new kids in the mix. They just have to come out and work. I think as long as we do that and pop people around, I think we will be alright,” said Coach Poteete.

“We have a little bit of size on the line, but we are typically on the smaller end in our conference. As long as they work it doesn’t really matter to me how big they are. We will figure that out once we go up against somebody else,” Coach Poteete continued.

The Saints’ quarterback crew includes Collin Donnell, Hayden Quarles, Landon Holmes, and Zayne Thomas.

“This year our quarterback will be Collin Donnell,” said Coach Poteete. “He and Hayden Quarles are both eighth graders and three-year players. Those two will probably run the show for us this year. Donnell really came in last year and ran the ball hard. He wasn’t very fast, but he has gotten a little bit faster. He has a chip on his shoulder and really plays the game the way I want him to play. He doesn’t take anything from anybody. He has something to prove every time he is out here. That’s the way he plays, and I think he has garnered his team’s respect this year which is why he got that Captain nod. Quarrels is another one who can throw the ball pretty well. He comes in and never seems to shy away from the moment. He is always ready. We also have Landon Holmes in waiting for next year. He may play some other positions this year. He is another good team player just willing to do whatever it takes,” said Coach Poteete.

Primary receivers will be Levi Cripps. Bryson Redmon, and Rocky Cantrell.

“I really think we have as many weapons outside as we have had in several years and physical weapons as well, not just guys that can run. They are ready to hit somebody,” explained Coach Poteete. “If we can protect up front, give the quarterback time, and he can make the right read, I believe we could throw the ball pretty well. They just have to stay poised,” he said.

Asked about the kicking game, Coach Poteete said he expects a lot of onsides attempts this season.

“We will probably onsides kick a lot this year and take our chances. If we can get one out of ten that’s an extra possession, so that’s what we plan to do. We’ll try to line it up, get that ball back, and pop everybody standing up there”.

“Overall, we have a great leadership group this year. We are eighth grade heavy so as long as they come out and stay true to what we do and they don’t slack I think the sky is the limit for this team, but potential doesn’t guarantee us anything. They have to come out and execute. I am anxious to get out and pop somebody on Thursday and see what we have,” added Coach Poteete.

Joining Coach Poteete are assistants Hunter Poteete, Abram Edwards, Jacob Hale, and Joseph Pack.

After the season opening game against Fentress County at home Thursday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m., the remaining regular season schedule is as follows:

August 8: Cumberland County (HOME) 6:30 p.m.
August 15: Macon County* (Homecoming) 6:30 p.m.
August 20: Smith County* (AWAY) 6:30 p.m.
August 23: Warren County (AWAY) 11:00 a.m.
August 29: Prescott Middle* (AWAY) 6:30 p.m.
September 5: Upperman Middle* (HOME-8th GRADE NIGHT) 6:30 p.m.
September 12: White County* (AWAY) 6:30 p.m.
Post Season:
September 21: Conference Playoffs/Consolation-TBA
September 26: Conference Championship-TBA

Members of the team pictured above are as follows:

1. 2024 Saints Football Team. Top L to R: Brantley Cantrell, Jayden Gutierrez, Kollin Hale, Rylan Thomas, Grant Slager, Zander Simpson, Zane Griffith, Pasha Hennessee, Jordan Schipp, Collin Donnell Braxton Bain, Gavin Frazier, Reed Midgett, William Soto, Daniel Santizo, Levi Cripps, Bryson Redmon, Conner Nash, Landon Holmes, Oswaldo Sebastian. Middle L to R: Kaysen Hale, Elijah Watson, Hayden Quarles, Jaeden Martin, K’sin Morgan, Akoni Paasch, Ayden Buchanan, Auston Parker, Colton Saso-Varble, Micheal-Ray Fann, Rocky Cantrell, Keegan Taylor, Chaz Weterman, Thomas Locklear, Kaden Johnson. Bottom L to R: Waylon Ketchum, Sebastian Siller, Dalton Howell, Blaze Westerman, Zayne Thomas, Mccullan Bogle, Zayden Campbell.

2. Saints Football Coaches left to right: Assistants Abram Edwards and Hunter Poteete, Head Coach Justin Poteete and Assistants Jacob Hale and Joseph Pack (Not Pictured)

3. Captain L to R: Bryson Redmon, Collin Donnell, Gavin Frazier, Reed Midgett

4. QB’s L to R: Hayden Quarles, Collin Donnell, Landon Holmes, Zayne Thomas

5. RB’s Top L to R: Elijah Watson, Gavin Frazier, Reed Midgett, Rylan Thomas. Bottom L to R: Blaze Westerman, Ayden Buchanan, Keegan Taylor, Akoni Paasch

6. WR’s Top L to R: Auston Parker, Pasha Hennessee, Rocky Cantrell, Jayden Gutierrez, Levi Cripps, Bryson Redmon. Bottom L to R: Sebastian Siller, Dalton Howell, Waylon Ketchum, Colton Saso-Varble, Zayden Campbell, K’sin Morgan

7. DB’s Top L to R: Auston Parker, Keegan Taylor, Rocky Cantrell, Jayden Gutierrez, Pasha Hennessee, Levi Cripps, Landon Holmes. Bottom L to R: Waylon Ketchum, Dalon Howell, Akoni Paasch, Colton Saso-Varble, Zayden Campbell, K’sin Morgan

8. D-Line Top L to R: Brantley Cantrell, Oswaldo Sebastian, Kollin Hale, Grant Slager, Conner Nash, Jordan Schipp, Braxton Bain, Daniel Santizo, Bryson Redmon. Bottom L to R: Zane Griffith, Zander Simpson, Jaeden Martin, Thomas Locklear

9. LB’s Top L to R: Kaysen Hale, Hayden Quarles, Gavin Frazier, Collin Donnell, Bryson Redmon, Reed Midgett, William Soto, Elijah Watson. Bottom L to R: Zayne Thomas, Mccullan Bogle, Rylan Thomas, Chaz Westerman, Ayden Buchanan, Micheal-Ray Fann, Kaden Johnson

10. O- Line Top L to R: Brantley Cantrell, Zane Griffith, Kollin Hale, Grant Slager, Conner Nash, Zander Simpson, Jordan Schipp, Braxton Bain, William Soto, Daniel Santizo, Oswaldo Sebastian. Bottom L to R: Chaz Westerman, Jaeden Martin, Kaysen Hale, Mccullan Bogle, Thomas Locklear, Micheal-Ray Fann, Kaden Johnson.

July 28, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The summer break for students is almost over.

DeKalb County Schools will re-open Thursday, August 1 for registration.

Students will attend for 90 minutes (abbreviated day from 7:45 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.). to sign up at their schools.

The first full day of school will be Monday, August 5.

Professional Development at the individual schools will be July 29-31.

Friday, August 2 will be an administrative day for teachers only. Students will not attend on Friday, August 2.

The 2024-25 DeKalb County School Calendar is as follows:

DeKalb County students and teachers will have a full week off for fall break October 14-18, Thanksgiving November 25-29, and spring break March 24-28, and a two-week winter break for Christmas December 23 to January 3. December 20 will be an abbreviated day (7:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.). Students will return to school after the Christmas holiday on January 6, 2025. Schools will also be closed for Labor Day September 2, Dr. Martin Luther King Day January 20, President’s Day February 17, Good Friday. April 18, and Monday, April 21. The last day of school will be May 23, 2025 (abbreviated 7:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.). May 22 will be an administrative day.

Report cards will be issued at all schools on October 8, December 20, January 9, March 18, and May 23.

Parent teacher conferences will be held at all schools from 3-6 p.m. on October 10 and March 20.

Meanwhile families in DeKalb County can get a helping hand with their back-to-school needs thanks to the annual Back to School Education Celebration hosted again this year by the Smithville First Baptist Church (FBC).

This Back-to-School Bash event will be held Thursday, August 1 starting at 6 p.m. at the church’s Life Enrichment Center downtown.

Pastor Chad Ramsey said other churches, businesses, etc. will be joining in the effort to provide free school supplies to families. Tables or booths will be set up inside the Life Enrichment Center gym and to help prevent duplication of services, they will each offer different types of supplies from pencils, paper, back packs, etc. Participants will line up at the door and enter after being handed information describing what they will find at each table. Families will walk through and get what they need from each booth. Most of the activity will be held inside.

Next Sunday, August 4, the DeKalb County Ministerial Association will host a back-to-school prayer gathering in the DeKalb County High School Gym at 2:00pm.

This prayer event will consist of two parts. First, there will be a gathering at the high school gym at 2:00 where local ministers will lead a time of prayer for administration and leadership, faculty and staff, students, parents/guardians, and extracurricular activities/athletics. The second part will consist of smaller groups gathering at each of the public schools in DeKalb County to pray specifically for that school.

The back-to-school prayer event is held annually on the Sunday before the first day of the school year. It is sponsored and led by the DeKalb County Ministerial Association.

July 28, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

If early voting in DeKalb County is any indication the turnout for the August 1 elections locally on Thursday may fall far short of the result four years ago in August.

Sample Ballot

Early voting ended Saturday and during the two-week period a total of 668 cast ballots in DeKalb County including 627 in person and 41 absentees. Four years ago in a similar August election, a total of 3,266 cast ballots (total) including 1,665 on election day, 1,270 walk-in early voting, and 331 paper absentees.
The reason for the lighter turnout is likely because hardly any race is contested Thursday except for US Senate and House primary races and there is an active write-in campaign in Alexandria for Municipal mayor and aldermen seats.

Of the 668 who voted early locally in this election, 520 cast ballots in the Tennessee Republican Primary and 129 in the state Democratic Primary. Nineteen voted in only the County General Election without participating in primary.

On Saturday, July 27, a total of 58 voted including 48 in person and 10 by absentee. Of the 58, a total of 50 cast ballots in the state Republican Primary and 8 in the Democratic Primary.

Election Day is Thursday, August 1 and voting at all 12 precincts that day will be from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. WJLE will have LIVE election return coverage starting at 7 p.m.

Voters will decide races in the DeKalb County General Election, Tennessee Republican and Democratic Primaries, and the Municipal Elections in Smithville, Dowelltown, and Alexandria.

All the local Republican nominees from the March primary are unopposed in the DeKalb County General Election including Incumbent Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell, Sixth district incumbent school board member Jason Miller, Fifth district school board candidate Megan Moore; Constable candidates 1st District: Tyler Cripps, 2nd District: Danny Adamson, 3rd District: Incumbent Travis Bryant, 4th District: Incumbent Lane Ball, 5th District: Incumbent Mark Milam, and 7th District: Jeremy Neal, and Judge Shawn C. Fry for the newly created Criminal Court Judge position in Part III of the seven-county 13th Judicial District.

For the county commission to fill unexpired terms, Andy Pack in the 6th district and Mathias Anderson in district 7 were recently nominated and certified as Republican candidates through the local GOP caucus process and their names appear on the August 1 ballot.

The Smithville Municipal Election is uncontested on August 1. The three incumbent aldermen up for re-election, Shawn Jacobs, Danny Washer, and Jessica Higgins are running unopposed.

Only three people qualified for the Alexandria Municipal Election ballot on August 1. In this election, the positions to be filled are for mayor (unexpired term), three aldermen, and three other aldermen (unexpired terms). Beth Tripp is running for the unexpired mayor’s term while Jeff Ford is seeking to fill an unexpired alderman term and Jonathon Tripp is running for a full alderman term. No one qualified on the ballot to run for the other positions.

No one qualified to run in the Dowelltown Municipal Election on August 1 in which a mayor and two aldermen are to be elected.

The following have filed a certificate of write-in for the following offices, but their names do not appear on the August 1 ballot:

Constable- District 6:
Keith Elkins

City of Alexandria:

Mayor
Allen Lawson
Russell “Rusty” Bradshaw

Alderman
Bobbie Ford
Robert “Bobby” Simpson
Lucas “Luke” Prichard
Curtis Rutter

The August 1 ballot also features two State Judicial Retention questions as follows:

Shall Dwight Tarwater be retained in office as a Judge of the Supreme Court At Large or be replaced?

Shall Matthew J. Wilson be retained in office as a Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, Western Division or be replaced?

In the Tennessee Republican Primary on August 1 the candidates are as follows:

United States House of Representatives District 6: John Rose

United States Senate: Marsha Blackburn and Tres Wittum

Tennessee Senate District 16: Janice Bowling

Tennessee House of Representatives District 40: Michael Hale

In the Tennessee Democratic Primary on August 1 the candidates are as follows:

United States House of Representatives District 6: Lore Bergman, Clay Faircloth, and Cyril Focht

United States Senate: Marquita Bradshaw, Lola Denise Brown, Gloria Johnson, and Civil Miller-Watkins

Tennessee Senate District 16: Wayne Steele

Tennessee House of Representatives District 40: Daniel T. Hawthorne

State Executive Committeewoman District 16: Rupa Blackwell.

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