October 19, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Finding themselves down 13-6 at halftime, the DCHS Tigers shutout visiting Macon County 20-0 in the second half for a 26-13 senior night victory in Smithville Friday evening.
DeKalb County, now 5-4 on the year and 2-1 in the region, is poised to finish as the region runner-up if it can knock off Cumberland County at Crossville to close out the regular season on Friday, November 1. The Jets are 0-8 and 0-3 in the region. A win there would guarantee the Tigers a first round state play-off home game on November 8.
Macon County scored first Friday night on a 14 yard touchdown run by Cameron Houston with 1:02 left in the 1st period capping a 63 yard drive. The PAT attempt by Ryan Underwood was no good but Macon County led 6-0.
DeKalb County answered with 5:22 left in the 2nd period as Tiger quarterback Axel Aldino found Desmond Nokes on a 67 yard pass play for a touchdown. Kicker Alan Munoz slipped on the PAT try and failed to connect but the game was tied at 6-6.
Seconds before halftime, Macon County blocked a Tiger punt and then scored on the next play as Cameron Mercer caught a 14 yard pass from quarterback Jon Mark Gammons for a touchdown with 23.4 seconds remaining. Underwood converted the PAT and Macon County led 13-6 at halftime.
Late in the 3rd period DeKalb County’s Isaac Knowles intercepted a pass near midfield and returned it to the Macon County 18 yard line. Alan Munoz then caught the game trying touchdown pass from Aldino with 55 seconds left in the quarter. The PAT by Munoz was good and the game was tied at 13-13.
In the 4th period, DeKalb County capped a 94 yard drive with a touchdown as Aldino again hooked up with Desmond Nokes this time for 50 yards and a score. The extra point attempt by Munoz was blocked but DeKalb County had its first lead at 19-13 with 4:24 left in the game. Nathaniel Crook had a big play in the drive getting the ball to near midfield aided by a Macon County penalty just before the Tigers’ struck for the score.
DeKalb County then put the game out of reach as Nathaniel Crook scored on a 19 yard touchdown run with 2:47 left in the 4th period capping a Tiger 53 yard drive, Munoz added the extra point and DeKalb County prevailed 26-13.
With the loss Macon County drops to 4-4 on the season and 2-1 in the region. Although both DeKalb and Macon are currently tied for 2nd place in the region at 2-1 DC owns the tie breaker.
It’s a bye week for DeKalb County next week as students are off for fall break. Again, DeKalb County will close out the regular season at Cumberland County on Friday, November 1st. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. and WJLE will broadcast LIVE.
Region Standings:
Livingston Academy: 8-0 (3-0)
DeKalb County: 5-4 (2-1)
Macon County: 4-4 (2-1)
Stone Memorial: 2-6 (1-3)
Cumberland County: 0-8 (0-3)