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Sports

Update: Tucker Defeats Southwest DeKalb 18-7

Defense dominates, trick play makes the difference.

Dominic Sanders completed a fourth-down, 24-yard touchdown pass to Yusuf Minor with 4:43 left in the second quarter and the Tigers’ defense kept up the pressure to secure the 18-7 win Thursday night at Hallford Stadium.

On fourth and 8 from the 24, after lining up as the left wideout, Sanders received the ball in the backfield on a flip on a double-reverse, then threw down the near sideline to a wide-open Minor, who fell in for the winning score. This followed up a 2-yard Brendon Hooker run to convert on fourth down with 7:21 to go in the half.

During a wild five-minute interval at the end of the second quarter, Southwest DeKalb’s Toran Davis rushed for 32 yards to pull the Panthers within 2. The running score capped off a drive that included a 23-yard gain on a fake punt, Southwest’s first trip across midfield with 2:02 remaining and a pass interference penalty on Tucker.

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Perhaps the biggest series of the game occurred after Tucker fumbled the ensuing kickoff. The Panthers recovered on the Tucker 26 and were standing on the 15 following an 11-yard pass from Jalil Young to Desmond Douglas. Coach Stephens called a timeout, and a Southwest DeKalb false start was followed up by a Joshua Dawson sack and a near-interception by Jordan Landry. Joseph Rush put the exclamation point on the stand with a huge sack, backing up the Panthers to the 34 for a fourth and 29.

Juwaan Williams 12-yard scoring pass to Joshua Dawson with 8:45 left in the fourth quarter capped off the scoring at 18-7.

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Jacob Sealand recorded a first-quarter fumble recovery when Jalil Young couldn’t cleanly handle the snap, giving Tucker the ball deep in Panthers territory, leading to the Tigers taking the lead for good. Steven Duffy made his first field goal attempt of the season, a 21-yarder with 4:17 in the first quarter to open the scoring.

Tucker picked up a safety on a Southwest DeKalb botched punt attempt with 1:48 remaining in the third quarter. The Panthers’ punter appeared to be talking to the official when the ball was snapped past him. Chasing the ball towards his goal line, he elected to kick it through the end zone and eat the two points rather than give up seven.

Hooker was a solid option on the ground all night, eating up clock with tough runs in the box.

Both teams showed some first-game jitters on offense. Tucker played solid defense and managed the clock well. Southwest DeKalb fought the clock all night, and just had no answer for a persistent Tucker running game, giving up short gains and large chunks of clock. Aside from an out-of-control ending to the first half, the game never looked in question.

Scoring Summary

Team

Qtr.

Time

Description

Score

THS

1

4:17

FG Duffy 21yds

THS 3 – 0 SWD

THS

2

4:43

TD Sanders pass to Minor 24yds (PAT missed)

THS 9 – 0 SWD

SWD

2

1:08

TD Davis rush 32yds

THS 9 – 7 SWD

 

 

 

Halftime

THS 9 – 7 SWD

THS

3

1:48

Safety

THS 11 – 7 SWD

THS

4

8:45

TD Williams pass to Dawson 12yds (PAT good Duffy)

THS 18 – 7 SWD

 

 

 

Final

THS 18 – 7 SWD

 

THS Notable Lines

Juwaan Williams: Passing 49 yards, 1 TD, 0 Int, 3/10; Rushing 43 yards, 1 fumble, 7 carries

Dominic Sanders: Receiving 26 yards; Passing 24 yards, 1 TD, 1/1; Rushing 19 yards

Yusuf Minor: Receiving 24 yards, 1 TD; Rushing 15 yards, 7 carries

Brendon Hooker: Rushing 36 yards, 16 carries

Jacob Sealand: Fumble recovery

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