DeKalb County Takes Down Livingston 33-14 In Head Coach Steve Trapp’s Final Game

By Michael Lindsay

After 21 seasons at the helm in Smithville, the Steve Trapp era officially came to a close Friday night as DeKalb County defeated Livingston Academy, 33-14.

“I’m so proud of them,” said Trapp. “These seniors, it’s not very often you get to win the last game you play. I’m happy for those guys and it’s a memory they’ll have forever.”

Friday’s game wrapped up the 2025 season for both programs as neither will compete in next week’s playoffs.

“No matter what, it’s still a game and there’s a certain way it needs to be played,” said Trapp. “We had nothing to use tonight, so we might as well use it all.”

Ryan Lyons and Cecil Ketchum led the way for DeKalb County as Lyons caught a touchdown pass, returned a kickoff for a touchdown and intercepted two passes while Ketchum had 98 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and a pick-six.

DeKalb County got on the scoreboard first as they recovered a Livingston fumble in the red zone to set up a 22-yard touchdown pass from QB Jon Hendrix to Jesse Foutch on fourth down to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 4:32 remaining in the first quarter.

Livingston answered with 6:14 remaining until halftime as Drew Goolsby took a 4-yard run into the end zone for a touchdown. Kaden Weitzel punched in the 2-point conversion to give the Wildcats an 8-7 lead.

Livingston’s advantage lasted approximately 11 seconds as Lyons returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 13-8 lead with 6:03 left in the second.

The Wildcats struck back three plays later as Adrian Jenkins hit Rocco Carwile down the right sideline for a 61-yard touchdown pass to put Livingston back ahead 14-13 with 4:34 remaining until halftime. DeKalb County drove into Livingston territory late in the second, but the Wildcat defense held to preserve Livingston’s 14-13 lead at halftime.

Neither team found the end zone in the third period as the Wildcats entered the fourth quarter leading 14-13. DeKalb County retook the lead with 9:15 remaining as Hendrix hit Lyons on a 28-yard touchdown strike on 4th and 5 to give the Tigers a 19-14 lead.

DeKalb County’s defense stepped up on the ensuing drive as Ketchum intercepted a screen pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to extend the Tigers’ lead to 26-14 with 6:56 remaining.

DeKalb County’s offense took back over following a fourth-down stop at their own 30-yard line, where Ketchum put the game on ice as he took the first snap of the drive 70 yards to the end zone for a touchdown to make the final score 33-14 in favor of the Tigers.

DeKalb County wraps up the 2025 season at 4-6 overall and 1-4 in Region 4-4A play while Livingston falls to 5-5 and 0-5 in region action.