The Upperman Bees won “The battle of Center Hill” and reclaimed the oar after overrunning the DeKalb County Tigers at Baxter Friday night 49-27.
The oar, a trophy instituted two years ago between these two schools, is affectionately nicknamed “The Battle of Center Hill,” because the teams are on opposite sides of Center Hill Lake. The Tigers have kept the oar for a year after beating Upperman last year.
Upperman is now 1-1 after falling to Cookeville last week 52-7.
DeKalb County, now 0-2, will play their home opener and first region game next Friday, September 1 hosting Stone Memorial in Smithville at 7:00 p.m. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.
Stone Memorial is 1-1 with a season opening loss to East Ridge 35-14 at home and a road win at Scott County 21-14 Friday night.
Although the Tigers scored more points this week than last in the game against Warren County, they gave up more points, finding it difficult to stop the Bees, especially on the ground.
The Tigers got the first points of the game off a blocked Upperman punt as Braxton Linder raced 25 yards for a score. Andrew Fuson booted the extra point and DeKalb County led 7-0 with 10:14 left in the 1st period.
Upperman answered on a 25 yard touchdown pass from Duke Maresh to Donoven McCallister with 8:08 left in the 1st period. Chandler Street added the extra point and the game was tied 7-7.
DeKalb County covered 71 yards in two plays to regain the lead. After quarterback Tyler Cantrell rambled for 70 yards on the first play of the drive, Colton Seifert scored on a 1 yard TD run and with Fuson’s extra point, the Tigers jumped back in front 14-7 with 7:19 left in the 1st period. That would be DeKalb County’s last lead of the game.
The Bees tied the game on a 2 yard TD run by Blake Metzgar with 5:49 left in 1st period. Street kicked the extra point and the score was 14-14.
Metzgar found the endzone again with 15 seconds left in the 1st period on a 13 yard TD run. Street’s PAT attempt was blocked but the Bees held a 20-14 lead.
The Tigers threatened to get on the scoreboard again in the 2nd period but Fuson missed on a 37 yard field goal attempt.
The only score of the 2nd period came on a 28 yard field goal by Chandler Street with 3:46 left to extend the Upperman lead to 23-14
DeKalb County went to the air to get its next points on a 44 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Cantrell to Bradley Miller. Fuson booted the extra point and the Tigers cut the Bees’ lead to 23-21 with 10:06 left in the 3rd period.
Upperman widened the gap with 8:03 left in the 3rd period on a 1 yard TD run by Duke Maresh. Street added the extra point and the Bees led 30-21.
Metzgar added another 1 yard touchdown run for the Bees with 2:53 left in the 3rd period. The PAT attempt was no good but Upperman had stretched its advantage to 36-21.
With only four seconds left in the 3rd period, Maresh rambled 45 yards for another Upperman touchdown to put the Bees out front 43-21 with Street’s PAT.
The Tigers found pay dirt once more in the game on a 19 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Cantrell to Bradley Miller with 9:34 left in game. The try for the extra point failed but Upperman’s lead was cut to 43-27.
Upperman added the exclamation point with 7:33 left on a 45 yard TD run by Metzgar. Street’s PAT attempt was no good but the Bees prevailed winning 49-27.
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