Stephenson Head Coach Ron Gartrell (right) with quarterback Xavier Sheppard during win over Miller Grove that gave Gartell his 200th career victory. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Jaylen Marson-Knight scored three touchdowns and the Stephenson defense recorded five sacks and eight other tackles for a loss to ensure Head Coach Ron Gartrell would get his 200th career victory in a 34-0 win over the Miller Grove Wolverines on Friday night at Buck Godfrey Stadium.
As the final seconds ticked off the game clock, several players came up behind Gartrell and gave him an ice cold bath from the cooler to start the celebration. Gartrell sits at 200-107 in 28 seasons as a head coach in DeKalb County and became just the second DeKalb County coach to reach 200 victories.
He joined legendary Hall of Fame coach William “Buck” Godfrey (273-89-1) in the 200 victory club at the stadium recently named in honor of Godfrey. He is 164-61 in 20 seasons (1996-2015) at Stephenson and was 33-46 (1988-95) at Shamrock (now a middle school). He has a string of 15 consecutive seasons with a playoff appearance at Stephenson and took Shamrock to its only playoff appearance in 1991.
The defense was called on early as a fumble on the kickoff gave the Wolverines (3-2) the football at the Stephenson 25. The Jaguars forced a turnover on downs as Dennis Wonnum stopped Taurean Taylor on fourth down.
Jaylen Marson-Knight (with ball) runs behind blockers for some of his 148 yards on the night. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Marson-Knight led the Jaguars on a 14-play, 76-yard drive carrying eight times for 57 yards, including the final two yards for the opening score with 3:55 left in the first quarter.
The Jaguar defense forced a Miller Grove punt and promptly started a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took 6:32 off the clock. Marson-Knight was the workhorse again with 7 carries for 35 yards, including a one yard push into the end zone for the score. The point after was no good and Stephenson led 13-0 with 8:32 to play in the half.
Another three and out forced by the defense gave the Jaguars the ball at their own 35. Trestan Kinsler had runs of 17 and 32 yards in the drive, the latter covering the final distance for the touchdown. Darien Tisdale hit his second point after of the game to send Stephenson to the half up 20-0.
Marson-Knight scored his third touchdown of the game and eighth touchdown in two games with a 12-yard run around the left side for a 27-0 Stephenson lead with 6:32 in the third quarter. Darius DeBose had a five yard TD run with 5:37 to play to finish out the scoring. Tisdale hit both points after to finish 4 of 5 on the night in the 34-0 win.
Aaron Sterling had 3 sacks in the game to lead the defensive charge. Stephenson improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in Region 6-5A.
Marist 41, Lithonia 8
The Marist War Eagles (5-1) scored 34 unanswered points over the final three quarters of play to knock off the Lithonia Bulldogs (3-3) 41-8 in a Region 6-4A contest.
The Bulldogs were up 8-7 following a on a Robert Hatchett to Jordan Smith 45-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter that gave Lithonia the lead heading into the second quarter.
Jack Dinges tossed two touchdown passes and added rushing touchdowns to lead the War Eagles to victory.
St. Pius 30, Columbia 15
St. Pius (3-2, 3-0) held off the Columbia Eagles (3-2, 2-1) by driving 80 yards in 11 plays to extend a 23-15 with the 6 minute drive in the fourth quarter on the way to the 30-15 Region 6-4A battle between two teams tied for the region lead.
Columbia’s Will Tomlin hit Daniel Harris for a 3-yard touchdown pass with just over 8 minutes to play in the fourth quarter to close the gap to 23-15.
Druid Hills 34, Dunwoody 0
Druid Hills senior Arquese Geter scored three first half touchdowns to lead the Red Devils (3-2, 1-0) to a 34-0 Region 6-5A Sub Region A victory over the Dunwoody Wildcats (2-3, 0-1).
Geter scored twice in the first quarter to send Druid Hills to a 14-0 lead heading into the second quarter and added his third before the half to increase the lead to 20-0 at the half. Geter fueled a Red Devils’ rushing attack that put up over 300 yards.
Newton 37, Tucker 20
Junior Nick Taylor scored three touchdowns to lead the Newton Rams (5-1, 1-0) to a 37-20 Region 2-6A victory over the Tucker Tigers (3-3, 0-1) on Homecoming at Adams Stadium on Friday night.
Taylor scored on a run of 15 yards and a Romario Johnson to Deandre Huff 38-yard pass play in the first half to help Newton to a 16-14 halftime lead. The Tigers had responded with a three-yard run by Myles Donaldson and a Garrett Rigby 34-yard touchdown pass play to Tabarius Peterson.
Newton extended the lead to 23-14 early in the second half as Taylor set himself up for a two-yard touchdown run with a big 45-yard run on the opening drive of the half.
The Rams would close out the game with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as Johnson to Huff connected for a 25-yard pass play and Taylor scored his third touchdown of the game to make the final of 37-20.
DEKALB FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 2
Newton (5-1) 37, Tucker (3-3) 20
SW DeKalb (2-3) 28, M.L. King (1-4) 14
Stephenson (4-1) 34, Miller Grove (3-2) 0
Redan (3-3) 30, Chamblee (2-3) 0
St. Pius X (3-2) 30, Columbia (3-3) 15
Marist (5-1) 41, Lithonia (3-3) 8
Alcovy (1-5) 15, Lakeside (3-3) 12
Saturday, Oct. 3
Druid Hills (3-2) 34, Dunwoody (2-3) 0
Arabia Mountain (2-3) 24, Stone Mountain (0-6) 0
OPEN: Cedar Grove (4-1), Clarkston (0-5), Cross Keys (0-3), McNair (1-4), Towers (1-4)