Trine Dominates Second Half

Dekalb TV Announcers Austin & Bernie

The eventful sports weekend started  Friday night at Dekalb High School covering the DHS varsity football game as they were taking on their NHC foe, the Homestead Spartans. The Barons fought hard, but the Spartans had just too many weapons, and they defeated Dekalb by the score of 44-6.

The Barons only score came on a 6 yard TD pass from Evan Cochran to Dylan Caegle. This coming Friday, Dekalb will travel to Ossian, Indiana to take on the 0-6 Norwell Knights. If you recall, the Barons defeated Norwell last year 14-0, but they ended up having to forfeit that contest because of an ineligible player.

Action During the Dekalb – Homestead Game

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The high point was the Trine Thunder ending their 2 game losing streak, as they defeated Taylor University on Saturday afternoon by the score of 28-13.

The Trine Thunder in Angola  trailed at the half of their contest in Angola vs Taylor 10-0. But keyed by the pass catching and punt returns of JaVontae Hence, as well as a punishing running game delivered by Mike Inge, Trine completely dominated the second half to win by that final 15 point margin.

The Thunder will open MIAA conference play this Saturday when they travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan to take on Kalamazoo college. A big thanks to Austin and Ethan for their coverage of the contest.

We are bringing you Dekalb football games live!. Listen Friday at 7:00 pm!!

Barons & Thunder – Both in Need of a Win

Trine Captains Before a Recent Game

This weekend, the Dekalb Barons, as well as the Trine Thunder, will both be seeking that very elusive second win of their respective football seasons.

The Barons sit at 1-4, while Trine will go into their game at 1-2. Dekalb will be hosting the high-flying Homestead Spartans Friday at 7:00 pm. While the Thunder will host Taylor Saturday at 1:00 pm up in Angola.

Dekalbs’ “Achilles heel” has been the fact that they get down early in the game, and then having to play catch up has proven difficult. They have trailed in the last three games a combined 110-0 at the halves.

Offensively, the Barons have proven that they can move the football, but they have trouble finishing drives. Also, penalties & turnovers have not helped the cause.

Trine’s problems have stemmed from the fact that they are having trouble putting the ball in the end zone. The offense, in what looked to be a real strength going into the season, has sputtered, no more so than in last weeks 13-10 loss to Concordia College up in Wisconsin. The Thunders’ only score came on a blocked punt for a TD.
The week before against Elmhurst College, they scored a TD early, and a TD late, but in between, they gave up 31 points.

If you follow both of these local teams, a win this weekend would certainly fill the bill for both the Barons& the Thunder to get things turned around.

Barons Drop Third Conference Game in a Row

The Dekalb Barons went into Friday night’s football game vs. Columbia City looking to pick up their first league win after losses to New Haven & East Noble. But for Dekalb, it was the same script once again, as they fell behind early, and were never able to mount a comeback,and they lost to the Eagles 62-10.

Dekalb’s Henry Smaltz was named Homecoming King During Friday Night’s Game

Last week against East Noble, senior receiver Henry Smaltz had a nice game from his wideout slot, and we named him our Dekalb TV – BJP Enterprises player of the game. On Friday, which was the annual homecoming game, Henry had the honor of being named the homecoming king.

Unfortunately for the Barons, this was one of the few highlights on the night. Besides committing a number of costly turnovers, Dekalb’s defense just couldn’t stop the offensive attack of Columbia City. The Eagles mixed a nice running & passing attack that had the Barons on their heels most of the night.

Dekalb did have a nice play of their own in the third quarter when sophomore Riley Seavers helped force a quarterback sack, and the QB then fumbled, and Seavers picked up the loose pigskin and raced 45 yards for the Barons only touchdown on the evening.

Dekalb needs to forget about this one in a hurry, as they go from the frying pan into the fire when the Homestead Spartans come marching into Cecil E. Young field next Friday night.

Dekalb Loses to New Haven, Faces East Noble Next

If you are around the Dekalb High School football sports scene, the question this week has been can the Barons start another win streak against their NHC rivals to the west, the East Noble Knights?

Landon Cochran Kicks Off for the Barons Last Week Against New Haven

To put it mildly, it won’t be easy. Dekalb was beaten by New Haven last Friday by the score of 47-7. While the Barons were losing to the Bulldogs, the Knights were getting it handed to them by the Homestead Spartans by the score of 65-21.

With the game Friday being played in Kendallville, it will be doubly hard for Dekalb to bounce back against East Noble, and their first year head coach, Luke Amstutz.

Both teams need to come into this contest fired up, ready to play & play hard for 4 quarters, and to try and control both the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage. Whoever does that, should have a pretty good chance of having a W at around 9:45 pm.

Oh yea, a couple of other “keys” to the game. Limit your penalties, and take care of the football! These 2 issues plagued Dekalb in last Friday’s game, and if I’m a betting man, Coach Mike Cochran and his coaching staff have addressed those “keys.”

Coach Amstutz loves to put the football in the air. You probably remember the success that he had at Angola over the past few years with his aerial attack.

Dekalb must limit what East Noble does throwing the football, as well as being physical and nasty up front. The Barons must have time consuming drives that culminate in points.

For what should be an entertaining night of high school football, make the short drive west on Friday, and enjoy Dekalb & East Noble.

Electrifying Kickoff Return Leads Trine to Season Opening Victory

The Trine University Thunder opened their 2012 football season on Thursday night, as they hosted the Manchester Spartans at Shive Field.

The Thunder Taking the Field

Trine, with 15 starters returning from last season’s 7-3 campaign, were looking to get the season started in a big way against the young Manchester ballclub.

The Spartans had other ideas as they went toe-to-toe with the Thunder throughout the first half. Senior quarterback Ryan Hargraves had given Trine a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a 2 yard dash around left end.

That was the only scoring until Austin Adams scored for Manchester on a 4 yard scamper with 3:28 to go in the first half, and the Trine faithful were getting a bit uneasy.

But then, in the blink of an eye, senior return man Myron Puryear, who also doubles as one of the best defensive backs in the country, took the ensuing kickoff, started up the middle, headed for the right sideline, and went untouched 92 yards for the go ahead score, and the Thunder had momentum, as well as control of the game back on their sideline.

Trine added a 39 yard field goal by Tyler Keck right before halftime, and the Thunder had some breathing room as they went to the lockerroom with a 10 point cushion at 17-7.

The Spartans made it interesting, as they scored in the 4th quarter to pull within 3 at 17-14, but another short touchdown jaunt by Hargraves sealed the deal for the Thunder.

As you look back and analyze everything that transpired during the contest, in my mind, it was certainly the Puryear kickoff return that changed the fortunes of both teams on this night, and gave Coach Matt Land and his Trine Thunder another season opening W.

Solid Team Effort Key to Victory Over Rival Garrett

The Barons After the Victory

On Friday night, the Dekalb Barons went into their high school football game with their cross-county rival, the Garrett Railroaders, carrying the weight of a 22 game losing streak on their shoulders. Three hours after the contest started, they were walking on air, as Dekalb won the game by the score of 26-13.

As when these 2 teams hook up in any sport, there was a great crowd on hand, and it couldn’t have been a better atmosphere for a football game. (other than the fact that it was about 90 degrees at game time)

Dekalb TV Player of the Game, Evan Cochran

The Barons got solid performances from a number of players. Senior quarterback Evan Cochran led the offense in a cool, calm, & efficient manner as he spearheaded a number of time consuming drives just when Dekalb needed them the most. His short touchdown run with just over a minute to go clinched the win for the Barons.

Before that touchdown scamper, there was certainly a bit of consternation on Dekalb’s sideline, as the feisty Railroaders had cut a 19 point deficit down to 6 at 19-13 with just over 8 minutes to play. An electrifying 96 yard touchdown pass from Noah Follett to Drake Landes is the play that had the Barons squirming, and had wrested momentum over to the Garrett side of the field.

To Dekalb’s credit, they took the ensuing kickoff, and were able to regroup, and Cochran led them down the field to that clinching score.

With that 10 ton weight off their backs, the Barons will be going into conference play this Friday against New Haven with a new found sense of confidence & pride.

Congratulations Dekalb!

Dekalb-Garrett Will Be a Fun Night for Local High School Football

One of the best things that has happened concerning local sports in the past few years was when the administrations of Dekalb & Garrett high schools decided to renew their football rivalry.

Until last year, it had been 15 years since these teams had hooked up on the gridiron.

If you attended the game last season, you would be hard pressed to say that it wasn’t one of the best atmosphere’s for a high school football game in quite some time. Everyone involved at Garrett High School should be commended for insuring that everything was perfect come game time.

We were blessed with a beautiful late August evening, and the fans seemed to be streaming in from everywhere to enjoy the night’s festivities.

When the game did get underway, both teams were up to the task in putting on a show that had most of the spectators hooting and hollering for their favorite maroon and blue team, or their favorite black red & white team.

It was very close at halftime, with plenty of fireworks on the offensive side of the ball. Then in the second half, senior running back Todd Frickey took over, and the Railroaders ended up winning by 3 touchdowns.

This past Friday, when these 2 teams opened the 2012 season, Garrett won a wild one over Eastside, 32-27. Over in Mishawaka, the Barons lost to Mishawaka Marian, 48-17.

It is truly the case that when these rivals meet up, you can throw the records out the window.

Come on out to Dekalb High School this Friday night for a football game & an atmosphere as to how a rivalry game should be played. I’m confident that the festivities will be equal to what we saw last year in G-town. Get there early, get a good seat, and cheer on your team. It will be a lot of fun!