October 4, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
Dominance!
The DeKalb County High School Tigers overpowered the struggling Livingston Academy Wildcats 48-0 Friday night in their most dominant performance of the season.
There was plenty to celebrate. The win came before a stadium filled homecoming crowd. It was the Tigers’ first shutout of the season. Star running back Colby Barnes set a new single game rushing record in Tiger football history with 356 yards on 30 carries and 5 touchdowns. Coach Steve Trapp got his 100th high school career coaching victory and the win keeps the Tigers in the hunt for a regular season Region Championship. For the season, Barnes has 1,366 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.
DeKalb County is now 6-1 overall and 2-1 in Region 4, Class 4 A behind undefeated Stone Memorial who sports a record of 7-0 and 3-0 in region play. Macon County, who defeated the Tigers earlier in the season, owns a record of 6-1 (2-1) and Upperman is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the region. Both Cumberland County and Livingston Academy are now 0-7 (0-3).
The Tigers have a bye next week October 7 but will be at Upperman October 14, at Goodpasture October 21, and will then close out the regular season at home against Stone Memorial on October 28.
The Tigers scored their first touchdown of the game after a blocked Wildcat punt. Trace Hamilton got the ball and scored from 3 yards out with 8:06 left in the 1st period. Juan Ortega booted the extra point and DC led 7-0.
Colby Barnes scored his first of five touchdowns of the game on a 28-yard run with 4:32 left in the 1st period. The PAT attempt was no good but the Tigers led 13-0.
Barnes put the Tigers up 19-0 on a 50-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left in the 1st period. Again the PAT attempt was no good.
A mishandled kick-off gave the Wildcats the ball at their own 2-yard line but a safety extended the Tiger lead to 21-0 by the end of the 1st period.
A 12-yard touchdown run by Barnes with 9:02 left in the 2nd period built the Tiger lead to 27-0 after another failed PAT try.
Wil Ferris scooped up a fumble and scored on a 25-yard run with 8:44 left in the 2nd period and with Ortega’s PAT the Tigers owned a 34-0 lead.
Barnes got his fourth touchdown of the game on a 7-yard run with 2:25 left in the half. Ortega added the extra point and DeKalb County held a 41-0 advantage.
The last touchdown of the night came on a 15-yard run by Barnes with 7:26 left in the 3rd and with Ortega’s PAT DeKalb County went on to win 48-0.
The continuous clock rule was enforced in the second half of the game. Under TSSAA rules, the clock continues to run most of the time when the lead reaches 35 points in the second half in football.