September 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb Saints battled the Avery Trace Red Raiders into four overtimes before claiming a 26 to 18 victory for the Championship of the Upper Cumberland Conference Thursday night in Cookeville completing an undefeated 10-0 season. It was their first conference title since 2018. Avery Trace finished the year at 9-1 as the defending conference champion.
Avery Trace took the lead with 6:10 left in the 1st period on a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Xavier Wendell to Colt Reese completing a 4 play 42-yard drive. The 2-point conversion attempt was no good. The score was 6-0 in favor of the Red Raiders.
The Saints tied the game on a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Collin Donnell to Gavin Frazier capping a 9 play 92-yard drive with 36 seconds left in the 2nd period. The 2-point conversion attempt failed but the score was 6-6.
Avery Trace regained the lead on a 13-yard touchdown run by Davin Morton with 3:05 left in the 3rd period completing a 10 play 66-yard drive. The 2-point conversion try failed but the Red Raiders were up 12-6.
The Saints again tied the game on a 4-yard touchdown run by Reed Midgett early in the 4th period capping a 7 play 53-yard drive. The 2-point conversion attempt failed and the score at the end of regulation was 12-12.
Neither team scored in the 1st overtime but in the 2nd OT Quarterback Collin Donnell scored on a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Saints an 18-12 lead. The 2-point conversion attempt failed.
Avery Trace tied the game at 18-18 in the 2nd overtime on a Colt Reese 5-yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversation try failed.
Neither team scored in the 3rd overtime but in the 4th OT the Saints took the lead for good on a 10-yard touchdown run by Gavin Frazier. Collin Donnell scored on the 2-point conversion run to give the Saints a 26-18 lead.
The Saints then held on defense to claim the victory and the conference championship
Making the All-Conference team for the DeKalb Saints were Levi Cripps, Reed Midgett, Collin Donnell, Gavin Frazier and William Soto.