Stephenson’s Michael Pitts (25) and his defensive teammates look to live in the Rome backfield in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The No. 5 ranked Stephenson Jaguars traveled to Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta and behind 10 sacks by the Jaguar defense nipped No. 2 ranked Mays Raiders 10-9 to win the Region 6-5A championship on a rainy Friday night.
Mays came into the game undefeated at 9-0 and averaging almost 41 points a game, but the Jaguar defense had other ideas after posting five shutouts and allowing just 25 points over its last seven games since a loss to Florida Class 5A No. 1 ranked American Heritage-Plantation in early September.
The Jaguars had 35 sacks and 96 tackles for a loss on the season and added the 10 sacks against Mays quarterback BJ Phillips, the 10th securing the victory and region championship. Mays was held to a negative 39 yards rushing and just 165 yards passing in the game.
Mays recovered a bobbled snap on a punt with 1:05 to play at the Stephenson 19 with 1:05 to play in the game. Phillips was sacked on first down and a pass went incomplete on second down before Ivan Staples sacked Phillips again on third down. Amari Andrews completed the Stephenson victory with the Jaguars’ 10th sack on fourth down to seal the Region 6-5A title for Stephenson (9-1).
The Jaguars took the lead at 3-0 with 8:24 to play in the first half with a 29 yard field goal by Darien Tisdale. Trestan Kinsler’s four-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds left in the first half finished off a 16-play, 80-yard drive to give the Jaguars a 10-0 lead at the half.
Mays came out in the second half driving down into Jaguar territory before the Stephenson defense stiffened and forced a 22-yard field goal by Trenton Jamison with 9:35 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Phillips to Rondrecus Davis with 7:15 left in the third quarter to trim the lead to 10-9. The potential tying point after try was blocked by the Jaguars to keep the lead.
The Jaguars, now ranked No. 2 in Class 5A, will host the Region 7-5A No. 4 seed Rome Wolves (7-3) on Friday at Hallford Stadium in a game set for a 7:30 pm kickoff.
Cedar Grove’s Antwaun Jackson (52) and Tre’ Shaw had big plays against Blessed Trinity to help the Saints be Region 4-3A co-champions. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Cedar Grove 13, Blessed Trinity 13
Lightening made officials call the Region 4-3A championship game with No. 3 ranked Cedar Grove and No. 2 ranked Blessed Trinity tied at 13-13.
The game was set to go into overtime as Blessed Trinity recovered a Cedar Grove fumble inside the 10 yard line as time ran out when the lightening moved into the area causing the game to be called.
The Saints (8-1-1) were clinging to a 13-10 lead as Blessed Trinity was driving with less than 4 minutes to play and facing a third down at the Cedar Grove three. All-State defensive tackled Antwaun Jackson then made the big play of the game for the Saints to force a fourth down.
Blessed Trinity opted for a 20-yard field goal to tie the game at 13-13 with 2:54 to play.
The Saints drove right down the field following the ensuing kickoff but the fumble inside the Blessed Trinity 10 ended the game in the 13-13 tie.
Cedar Grove led 13-7 at the half behind a first quarter Tre’ Shaw 40 yard touchdown fun and a second quarter 45-yard touchdown pass from Jelani Woods to Israel Spivey.
The teams end the season as the Region 4-3A co-champions. A coin flip was the deciding factor and Cedar Grove won it and elected to be the No. 2 seed.
Columbia 26, Arabia Mountain 6
The Region 6-4A battle for the last playoff spot was played on Saturday night between the Columbia Eagles and Arabia Mountain Rams with the Eagles coming out on top 26-6.
Columbia (5-5) earned a trip to No. 1 ranked Cartersville for a 7:30 pm game on Friday for their second consecutive trip to the Class 4A state playoffs.
DEKALB FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Nov. 5
Grady (6-4) 47, Stone Mountain (0-10) 6
Washington (3-7) 10, McNair (2-8) 0
Friday, Nov. 6
Stephenson (9-1) 10, Mays (9-1) 9
Cedar Grove (8-1-1) 13, Blessed Trinity (9-0-1) 13
Marist (8-2) 36, Chamblee (2-8) 0
Tucker (7-3) 49, Lakeside (4-6) 21
St. Pius X (8-2) 45, Redan (4-5) 12
Carver-Atl (7-3) 37, Miller Grove (5-5) 7
Creekside (8-2) 41, SW DeKalb (4-6) 7
Dunwoody (3-7) 14, Clarkston (1-8) 0
Decatur (6-4) 35, Towers (2-8) 0
Saturday, Nov. 7
Columbia (5-5) 26, Arabia Mountain (4-6) 6
Druid Hills (4-6) 19, Banneker (0-10) 0
Tri-Cities (6-4) 30, M.L. King (4-6) 6
DEKALB FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 13
Lakeside (4-6) at Westlake (8-2), 7:30 pm
Rome (7-3) vs. Stephenson (9-1), Hallford, 7:30 pm
Columbia (5-5) at Cartersville (10-0), 7:30 pm
Saturday, Nov. 14
Pierce Co. (7-3) vs. Cedar Grove (8-1-1), Hallford, 5:00 pm
Langston Hughes (5-5) vs. Tucker (7-3), Hallford, 8:00 pm