November 13, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Tigers will be looking to extend their post season run as they host the Nolensville Knights in the second round of the TSSAA playoffs tonight (Friday) in Smithville.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE coverage on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and LIVE Streaming at www.wjle.com.
Last year the Tigers were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the playoffs with a 42-6 loss to the Knights at Nolensville.
The Knights are 6-3 overall and finished second behind Tullahoma in Region 4 with a 4-1 record. Their wins this season have been over Watertown 24-20, Spring Hill 30-14, Lawrence County 48-19, Maplewood 42-0, Marshall County 35-28, and Livingston Academy 38-14 last week in the first round of the playoffs. The Knights have lost to Brentwood 47-12, Columbia 28-14, and to Tullahoma 29-14.
DeKalb County is 7-3 overall and finished as Region 3 champions with a 3-1 record. Tiger victories have been over Stone Memorial 31-30, Grundy County 32-0, Cannon County 49-7, Livingston Academy 38-14, Smith County 42-7, Macon County 24-20, and Spring Hill 38-15 last week in the first round of the playoffs. Tiger losses have been to Warren County 30-24, Upperman 27-21, and Watertown 21-14. Cumberland County got credited for a forfeit win due to COVID-19.
Tiger Coach Steve Trapp said his team is prepared for the challenge.
“They (Nolensville) are just a good program. Although they are in Class 4A they are a really big school and they will be moving up after this year. They have a lot of players and a lot of depth. You don’t see a lot of guys on offense and defense so that makes a difference and they are coached extremely well. They have a lot of athletes all over the field. We understand the challenge in front of us. Offensively a lot of things they do are the same things we do. There is a pass on every run play so you have to be able to cover pretty much all eleven guys every time when you are on defense. They are very disciplined on defense and very sound. They fly to the ball and tackle well. Their quarterback is probably also the best we will have faced all year as far as being able to throw the ball downfield and not just throwing screens and things like that although that is a big part of their game as well. He has a lot of scrambling ability. He is a lot like our quarterback. He can run around and still make plays down the field. He can fake it to the back and still run up in there or sit in the pocket and deliver the ball down field and he has some playmakers on the outside just like we do that they will take their shots with and try to create formations and ways to get those guys the ball so our guys have to be mentally sharp this week and come out with everything they have,,” said Coach Trapp.
WJLE’s Pre-Game shows begin with “Coach to Coach” at 5:00 p.m. featuring former UT assistant coach Doug Matthews with former coach Dave McGinnis and broadcaster Larry Stone talking Tennessee and SEC football.
“Tiger Talk” follows at 6:30 p.m. with the Voice of the Tigers John Pryor interviewing Coach Steve Trapp and Tiger players Evan Jones, Colby Barnes, and Isaiah Harrington.
The game kicks off at 7:00 p.m.
“Tickets will be sold exclusively online through GoFan for this week’s playoff game. Tickets will not be sold at the gate. Here is the link to purchase tickets and we will validate the ticket at the gate as fans enter the stadium,” said DCHS Principal Randy Jennings