The Smith County Owls and DeKalb County Tigers won’t soon forget their 2014 football meeting. The two long-time District/Region rivals took to the football field on Halloween night, and battled through snowy elements in a game eventually won by the Tigers, 13-0. The weather is expected to be more cooperative as the teams set to clash in a Region 4-3A showdown, this Friday night in Smithville. DTC Sports will be on hand for the 33rd meeting in the series, as Football Game Night will air on DTC3 and www.dtc3.tv at 6:45 p.m. this Friday night. Kickoff of the game is at 7:00 p.m. Join Tom Duggin, Darvin Gill and the coach, Chris Vance, for all the coverage LIVE from Smithville.
Smith County (3-1, 0-1 Region) has already met their win total from a disappointing 2014 season, with wins over Macon County (20-14), Gordonsville (17-0) and Livingston Academy (41-21). The Owls’ lone lost to date was to current Region 4-3A leader, Sequatchie County (28-19), back on September 4. The Owls have averaged 24.3 points per game, while surrendering 15.8 points per contest. Smith County has been relatively balanced on offense, rushing for 149.3 yards per game, while passing for 131.3 yards per game. Senior tailback Dusten Holder has led the Owls’ ground attack with 437 yards on 79 carries with four touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Sophomore QB Carson Hackett has an additional 124 yards rushing and three scores, while he has thrown for 525 yards and six touchdowns, completing 57.4 percent of his pass attempts. Fellow sophomore Shermar King has caught 10 passes for 283 yards and three scores.
DeKalb County (3-1, 1-0 Region) is coming off back-to-back nail biting victories. The Tigers opened their season with a 23-14 win at Warren County, followed by a 49-17 loss at Stone Memorial. DeKalb then escaped Jamestown with a 42-41 Region win over York Institute, then won their home opener over Cumberland County last Friday night, 27-25. Both the York and Cumberland County contests came down to the last play of the game, as the Tiger defense held on for victory in the final seconds of each game. Through the first three games of the season, the Tigers were averaging 164 rushing yards per game and 227.7 passing yards per game. Junior QB Steven Jennings led the team in both categories, with over 900 yards combined. Through all four games this year, DeKalb County is averaging 27.3 points per game, while allowing 32.3 points per contest.
The Owls and Tigers have met 32 times, dating back to the 1973 football season, with Smith County holding a 23-9 edge in the overall series. DeKalb County has won two of the last three meetings, but the Owls are 15-3 against the Tigers since the 1986 season. This season marks the seventh consecutive the two teams have met in the regular season.
DTC Sports will begin coverage of high school football on Friday night with Armchair Quarterbacks, airing at 6:00 p.m. (AQ also airs Thursday night at 6:00 p.m.), with LIVE coverage of Football Game Night following from the Dr. John L. VanHooser Memorial Stadium in Smithville at 6:45 p.m. Watch local high school football exclusively on DTC3, DTC3 HD (channel 303) and live via web stream at www.dtc3.tv.
https://youtu.be/uudOQNdj6IM
