October 29, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
Another one-point overtime loss for the Tigers.
On the last night of the regular high school football season, the DeKalb County Tigers lost to the visiting Stone Memorial Panthers on senior night 29 to 28 in overtime. With the win, Stone Memorial (9-1, 4-1) claims the regular season region championship and will host Hixson (5-5, 3-3 Region 3) in the first round of the state play-offs. The Tigers (6-4, 2-3), who have lost three straight including a one-point overtime loss at Upperman two weeks ago, finishes at 4th place in the region and will travel to East Hamilton (7-3, 6-0 Region 3) next Friday night (November 4) for the first round of the state play-offs. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. (EDT) and WJLE will have LIVE coverage.
The Tigers struck first in the game Friday night as quarterback Jordan Parker found Malachi Trapp for a 6-yard touchdown pass completing a 56-yard drive with 9:36 left in the 1st period. Kicker Juan Ortega connected on the extra point and DC led 7-0.
Stone Memorial answered with one second left in the 1st period as QB Hunter Heavilon scored on a 6-yard keeper completing a 50-yard drive. Kicker Justin Barnett booted the extra point, and the score was tied at 7-7.
DeKalb County jumped back out front with 10:24 left in the 2nd period on a Jordan Parker pass to Austin Nicholson good for 49 yards and a touchdown. Ortega added the extra point and the Tigers led 14-7.
After a Stone Memorial turnover, the Tigers got another score with 8:01 left in the half on a 2-yard touchdown run by Malachi Trapp to give DC a two-touchdown lead at 21-7 after the Ortega PAT. The scoring drive was set up after Tiger Johnny Skinner picked off a pass and returned it to the Panther 33-yard line.
That would be all the scoring for the Tigers until overtime.
Stone Memorial drew closer on a 69-yard drive with 10:03 left in the 3rd period as QB Heavilon scored on a 2-yard touchdown keeper and with the PAT by Barnett, the Panthers trailed 21-14.
The last score of regulation came with 9:39 left in the 4th period on a 33-yard touchdown pass play from QB Heavilon to Bear Eldridge. Barnett converted the PAT and the game was tied at 21-21 heading into overtime.
The Tigers got the ball first and scored in the OT on a 2-yard touchdown run by Colby Barnes and with Ortega’s extra point DC led 28-21.
Stone Memorial then got their turn in overtime and scored on a 1-yard QB keeper by Heavilon. The Panthers then won the game 29-28 on a 2-point conversion Heavilon pass caught by Brady Lane.
Final Class 4A Region 4 team standings for the regular season are as follows:
*Stone Memorial: 9-1 (4-1)
Upperman: 8-2 (4-1)
Macon County: 8-2 (4-1)
DeKalb County: 6-4 (2-3)
Cumberland County: 2-8 (1-4)
Livingston Academy: 0-10 (0-5)