November 3, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County High School Tigers will begin their Class 4A state football play-off run tonight (Friday) on the road at Red Bank near Chattanooga.
https://www.wjle.com/tiger-talk/
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. eastern time which is 6 p.m. Smithville time and WJLE will have LIVE coverage with the voice of the Tigers John Pryor and Luke Willoughby.
This is the 13th consecutive post season appearance for the Tigers, who finished the regular season last week at 5-5 and 3-3 in Region 4. DeKalb County is the 4th place team from Region 4.
The Red Bank Lions are 7-3 and won the Region 3 regular season championship undefeated at 6-0.
Red Bank’s wins have been over Tyner Academy 44-6, East Ridge 27-6, Signal Mountain 42-7, Soddy Daisy 14-0, Sequoyah 35-0, Hixson 34-0, and Loudon 14-0. The Lions’ losses have been to Rhea County 28-21, Cleveland 51-7, and Bradley Central 35-0.
DeKalb County’s victories have been over Livingston Academy 31-9, Watertown 20-10, Gordonsville 21-7, Cumberland County 42-10, and White County 35-20. The Tiger’s losses have been to Warren County 34-27, Smith County 21-0, Stone Memorial 27-24, Macon County 32-20, and to Upperman 26-7.
Reflecting on last week’s loss to the Bees, Tiger Coach Steve Trapp said he was proud of his team’s effort.
“It was a tough way to go out but Upperman is a really good football team. I really liked how we fought in the first half especially. For us be down 7-0 at halftime was kind of what I expected but they (Bees) wear on you with how they do things. They are really good defensively and we just couldn’t get anything going. We were not good on first downs and that led to us not being good on third downs. I think we only converted two of nine third downs and they (Bees) converted nine of thirteen and that stat within itself was the difference in the ballgame,” said Coach Trapp.
In order for them to advance in the play-offs, the Tigers will need all hands-on deck tonight, but will be without at least one player in Marquez Chalfant who sustained a shoulder injury in practice this week. The Tigers will also be up against a talented Red Bank defense which features Duke signee Kobe Smith.
“They (Red Bank) are a team who has gotten where they are because of how their defense plays. We got a few films on them earlier in the year when they were healthy and tapes from the last couple of weeks and some things look different now offensively but that defense has been true the entire season so we are going to know where they are and where they are lining up and what they are wanting to do but our preparation and physicality all have to be on display so we can make things happen especially offensively. We are going to play extremely hard and give them a game. I feel very confident in our opportunity to come out victorious and if we do the things we need to do we have a shot,” said Coach Trapp.
WJLE’s Pre-Game shows begin with “Coach to Coach” at 4:30 p.m. featuring former UT assistant coach Doug Matthews with Tennessee Titans Radio Broadcaster Dave McGinnis and broadcaster Larry Stone talking Tennessee and SEC football.
“Coach to Coach” is followed by WJLE’s Tiger Talk program featuring host John Pryor interviewing Coach Steve Trapp and Tiger football players Wil Farris, Jordan Parker, and Trace Hamilton.
The game will kick off at 6 p.m. Smithville time and WJLE will have LIVE coverage with the Voice of the Tigers John Pryor and Luke Willoughby on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and on the LIVE stream at www.wjle.com.