I’m going to try to post a single Tiger Tale (story) each week on the front page. These stories are grouped together under the main page menu under Tiger Tales. This week’s is one of my favorites. Dennis Wilder ran as hard as a back could be expected to for an entire game in which the defense knew who was getting the ball each play. DW went Legend that night.

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In 2003 versus #1 ranked Lincoln County, Commerce went down to defeat to the Red Devils by a (14-7) score. However, Dennis Wilder put on a performance that will not long be forgotten. It was one in which he had 37 rushing attempts which is the second most in school history.

In the game the previous week, Commerce was defeated by Morgan County and in the game quarterback Josh Haynes was injured and not likely to be available for play the following week against the Red Devils.

Coach Steve Savage then installed the Notre Dame Box single wing offense to utilize the running skills of tailback Dennis Wilder. Commerce had not run this ancient offense since ….. the final game of the 1951 campaign.

Commerce trailed in the game (14-0) going into the fourth period, after LC had scored on two possessions in the second quarter the final one was a 16-yard pass on the next to last play of the first half.

In the first three quarters, Wilder kept Tiger hopes alive with his running and passing ability although Commerce had been unable to find the end zone.

Of the 39 plays that Commerce had run in the first half, Wilder ran or passed the ball on 37 of those snaps. He was “so to speak” carrying the mail for the Tigers to give the team a chance.

Following a 7-play, 65-yard drive, the Tigers finally found the end zone early in the fourth period when Wilder plunged in to pay dirt from one yard out. Tommy Eason’s PAT was successful, as the Tigers were now only seven points down at (14-7).

Still behind by seven points and with only 3:51 to go in the contest, the Commerce defense came up with a big play when it recovered a Red Devil fumble at the Commerce 49.

In the previous four games with Lincoln County, Commerce had rallied in the fourth quarter in three of these contests to snatch victory away from defeat. In the 2002 game, the Tigers had a run away (28-6) win. What went through the mind of the Lincoln County faithful as well as their players had to be, “Is Commerce going to do it to us again”?

With the aid of two penalties a personal foul and a face mask infraction, the Notre Dame Box offense of Commerce run by the weary Wilder moved the pigskin down to the ten. However, a fourth down pass by usual QB Haynes to Wilder proved unfruitful, as he was tripped up back at the twelve with 47 seconds left in the contest. Lincoln County had won this another classic contest between the two Class A powers by a (14-7) score.

Commerce had run a total of 58 plays in the game, and Wilder was involved in 49 of them rushing, passing and receiving. He was indeed a horse for the Tigers on this night.

Wilder’s stats for the night were: 37 rushes for 145 yards, 4 of 11 passing for 60 yards and one reception for zero yards.

Wow! What a heroic performance. Commerce did not win the game, but Dennis Wilder gained the respect of everyone in attendance.

Wilder ended the 2003 season with 1925 rushing yards and eventually collected 3370 for a three year career total and placing him fifth on the Commerce career list.

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