The DeKalb County Tigers defeated the Greenbrier Bobcats 46-27 Friday night in Smithville, and put to rest the program’s longest-running losing streak to an opponent. The Tigers had lost 14 straight to the Bobcats and had not beaten Greenbrier on the football field since 1979. With the win, DeKalb County’s record is now 3-0 overall and 1-0 in Region 4-3A.
Hunter Poteete accounted for 360 yards of total offense for the Tigers, and tallied six touchdowns, four through the air, but DeKalb County had to overcome an early deficit to keep their season record perfect.
Zack Ziegler gave Greenbrier the lead to open the contest, as he took the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers answered, however, as Poteete threw a 48-yard touchdown to Abram Edwards, and a four-yard scoring pass to Matthew Lawrence, which gave DeKalb County a 13-7 lead. The Bobcats went back on top in the final minute of the first quarter, as Cody Elder’s 10-yard touchdown run made it a 14-13 game after the extra point kick.
Only one score went on the board in the second quarter, and that was put up by the Tigers, who scored on Poteete’s 40-yard strike to Edwards. The two-point conversion pass attempt was no good, but DC had a 19-14 lead, which they took into the locker room at halftime.
The Bobcats struck first in the second half, as Ziegler took off on an 81-yard touchdown dash with 9:58 remaining in the third quarter. The two-point conversion pass attempt failed, but the visitors forged ahead, 20-19. It would be Greenbrier’s final lead of the contest, however, as Travon Johnson recovered a Bobcat fumble on their next drive, and the Tigers converted the turnover into an 11-play, 51-yard drive which ended with a five-yard touchdown run by Poteete. The conversion pass failed, but the Tigers went ahead, 25-20.
John Curtis forced a fumble on the ensuing Greenbrier possession, but the Tigers came away empty-handed on the following drive. Lawrence, then, forced yet another Bobcat turnover on the next drive, as he jarred the ball loose from quarterback, Mason Head. Logan Roller recovered the pigskin for the Tigers, who scored on the very first play from scrimmage after the turnover on a 53-yard run by Poteete. Zach Taylor kicked the extra point to give DeKalb County a 32-20 lead.
The DeKalb defense forced a Greenbrier punt on the next possesion, and the offense put the game away on the following drive. Poteete dumped a screen pass to Ryan Leiser, who broke through the Bobcat defense for a 74-yard touchdown. Taylor kicked the extra point to make it a 39-20 Tiger lead.
Greenbrier would answer on a 54-yard sprint to paydirt by Elder, but Lawrence snagged the on-side kick attempt in the air to give the ball back to the Tigers. Lawrence put the icing on the victory with a two-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the game.
Poteete finished the night 14-of-28 through the air, with 270 passing yards and four touchdowns, In addition, he rushed for 90 yards on 20 carries and scored two more touchdowns. Lawrence carried the ball 14 times for 69 yards and had both a rushing and receiving touchdown. Edwards also had two receiving touchdowns for the Tigers.
DeKalb County will have a bye next week, and will host Station Camp for Homecoming on Friday, September 19th. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m., and WJLE will have live coverage.
Other Region 4-3A scores from Friday night: Macon County upset Pearl-Cohn in Nashville, 6-0, for their first win of the season. Both Macon County and Pearl-Cohn are 1-2 on the season. Station Camp knocked off Sycamore, 28-13. The Bison and the War Eagles are both 2-1 on the season. Station Camp opens up 1-0 in Region play. Meanwhile, White House was dealt a 41-6 setback by Alcoa for their first loss of the season. The Blue Devils were ranked #5 in Class AAA in this week’s AP poll.
Among other DeKalb County opponents, Warren County lost to Franklin County, 30-12. The Pioneers fall to 1-2 overall, this season. Watertown was whipped by Trousdale County, 45-7. Trousdale is ranked #1 in the State in Class A. The Purple Tigers fall to 1-2 with the loss. Cannon County was handed a Region loss by York Institute, 27-7. The Lions drop to 0-2, after losing their season opener to Sequatchie County, 16-13, last week. Upperman, meanwhile, fell to Westmoreland, 25-0. The Bees are now 1-2 on the season.
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