November 2, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County High School Tigers closed out the regular season with a 41-6 win over the Cumberland County Jets at Crossville Friday night.
The Tigers complete the regular campaign with a 6-4 record and 2nd place in Region 3 at 3-1. Cumberland County finished 0-10 for the season and 0-4 in region play.
DeKalb County will enter the TSSAA State Football Play-offs next Friday night, November 8th hosting the Tullahoma Wildcats who have a record of 7-3 and finished 3rd in Region 4 at 3-2. Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. in Smithville and WJLE will have LIVE coverage.
In the game Friday night, DC struck first. After Tiger Isaac Knowles picked off a pass, DeKalb County started a scoring drive at its own 48 yard line. Quarterback Axel Aldino found Evan Jones on a 14 yard touchdown pass and the extra point by Alan Munoz gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 3:01 left in the 1st period.
After a Cumberland County fumble, the Tigers recovered at the Jets 29 yard line. Nathaniel Crook completed the drive on a 1 yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the 1st period. Munoz added the extra point and DeKalb County led 14-0.
Cumberland County got its only points of the game on a 27 yard touchdown run by Ronald Martin with 6:25 left in the 2nd period. The 2 point conversion attempt failed but the Tiger lead was cut to 14-6.
After a failed on-sides kick by the Jets, the Tigers took over at their own 47 yard line and drove 53 yards for another score. Nathaniel Crook got his second touchdown of the game, this time on a 9 yard run with 3:42 left in the half. The PAT try was no good but the Tigers led 20-6.
Late in the 3rd period the Tigers blocked a Cumberland County punt and recovered at the Jets’ 45 yard line. Aldino then threw for his second touchdown of the game on a 29 yard scoring pass to Tyzaun Ladet with 48 seconds left in the quarter. Munoz tacked on the extra point and the Tigers extended their lead 27-6.
The Tigers thwarted a 4th down play by the Jets in the 4th quarter with a quarterback sack by Antwon McCoy. DC then took over at their own 28 yard line and drove 72 yards for a score. Aldino hooked up with Isaac Knowles on a 17 yard touchdown pass with 10:08 left in the game. The PAT by Munoz was good and DeKalb County held a 34-6 lead.
The final score of the game came on a 43 yard touchdown romp by Aldino on a quarterback keeper with 7:09 left in the game. Munoz split the uprights for the extra point and the Tigers went on to win 41-6.