Heading into the Week 7 bye-week for middle school football teams are preparing for key region championship games after key victories in Week 6 of the regular season.

The Freedom Rams and Henderson Cougars set up a Region 1 title game for 1:00 pm at Avondale Stadium on Saturday, October 15 with their Region 1 wins over the weekend.

Freedom clinched its first spot in the Trail to the Title playoffs since a 2008 first round loss to Chapel Hill with a thrilling 8-6 win over the Chamblee Bulldogs last Saturday at North DeKalb Stadium.

The Rams (4-1, 3-0) jumped ahead 8-0 in the second quarter as Nathaniel Williams returned an interception 36 yards for the touchdown. Javon Titus tacked on the two-point conversion for an 8-0 halftime lead.

The lead was still 8-0 midway through the fourth quarter when Chamblee (1-4, 1-2) scored on a 70-yard run to trim the lead to 8-6. A fumble on the two-point conversion try helped Freedom maintain the advantage.

The Rams took the kickoff and took time off the clock driving to the Chamblee 43, but a pair of penalties pushed Freedom back to its own 27. Punter Jamir Bianco got off a 41-yard punt and Chamblee was facing a 68-yard field for the winning score.

Freedom’s defense held fast again the Bulldogs and sealed the victory. Christvie Okitanguwo had three tackles (1 sack) to lead the stingy Freedom defense while Javon Titus and Demetrius Ragland picked up two tackles apiece and Jaion Chandler had a pair of pass breakups.

Henderson’s 56-0 victory over Sequoyah (0-6, 0-4) at Adams Stadium set up the Region 1 title match with Freedom. The Cougars are 3-2 overall and 3-0 in the region. Both Henderson and Freedom will advance to the playoffs with the winner being a No. 1 seed.

Tucker 22, Peachtree 0
The Tucker Tigers knocked off the Peachtree Patriots 22-0 to set up a Region 2 championship game with the idle Champion Crusaders on Saturday, October 15 at Avondale Stadium in a 10:00 kickoff game.

Zion Alexander was big on offense for the Tigers (5-0, 3-0) with 125 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. Randy Britt added another touchdown on a 5-yard run for the Tigers.

The third Tucker touchdown came when Dawson Rivers stripped the ball in the end zone and Jacob Minor recovered for the touchdown. Donovan Williams had two interceptions and Keondre Scott had 5 tackles including a sack.

Champion (3-2, 2-1) can win the Region 2 title with a victory over Tucker which has won 23 consecutive regular season games and three consecutive Region titles. A Tucker win gives the Tigers their fourth consecutive region championship.

Peachtree (3-2, 1-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Stone Mountain (2-3, 0-3) at Adams Stadium on October 15 at 11:30 am and a Champion loss to Tucker.

Chapel Hill 22, Salem 0
The Chapel Hill Panthers set up a Region 4 title game against Cedar Grove on Saturday, October 15 at 11:30 am at Godfrey Stadium after a 22-0 shutout victory over Salem (1-5, 1-3).

The big play in the game was a strip and a 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Fitzroy Reid for the Panthers (4-1, 3-0).

Cedar Grove (4-1, 3-0) moved into the title game with a 26-0 win over McNair (0-5, 0-3). The Saints are the two-time defending Trail to the Title champions. Javonta Keys (4 tackles, 3 assists) and Deantonio Price (1 interception, 3 tackles, 2 assists, 1 caused fumble) led the McNair defense in the loss.

Stephenson 22, Lithonia 12
Joseph Jackson threw for a touchdown and ran for a second to lead the Stephenson Jaguars to a 22-12 Region 3 victory over the Lithonia Bulldogs (2-3, 1-2).

Jackson hit Bradley Favors for a 40-yard touchdown pass and went over the goal line on a two-yard sneak. Fullback Calvary Ray scored on a two-yard run to round out the scoring.

Troy Marshall and Destin Logan had two quarterback sacks each to lead the Jaguar defense.

Lithonia (2-3, 1-2) was led by the all-around play of Narvin Booker who scored two touchdowns and had 7 tackles on defense.

Stephenson (5-0, 3-0) can clinch the Region 3 title with a win over Miller Grove (4-1, 2-1) on Saturday, October 15 at Godfrey Stadium in a game set for a 1:00 pm kickoff. Miller Grove (4-1, 2-1) could force a two- or three-team tie for the title with a win depending on the outcome of the Bethune (4-1, 2-1) and Lithonia (2-3, 1-2) game played at 10 am at Godfrey.

Redan 8, Stone Mountain 6
Time ran out on Stone Mountain’s final drive of the game and Redan held on for an 8-6 Region 2 victory on Saturday at Godfrey Stadium.

Ali McDaniel led the Raiders (3-3, 2-2) with 122 all-purpose yards, including the lone touchdown. Dylan Milbry scored what was the winning two-point conversion for Redan. Stone Mountain fell to 2-3 overall and 0-3 in the region.

Jaden Lee (8 tackles), Malik Sims (6 tackles), Milbry (6 tackles), Summari Sutton (4 tackles) and Marcus Abney (4 tackles) led the Raider defense. Christian Waters and Selatian Struaghter came up with an interception each and Caleb Grant added 3 tackles for a loss, 1 sack and a forced fumble.

All teams are off on Saturday, Oct. 8 due to the fall break. The final week of regular season play is set for Saturday, Oct. 15 with the playoffs beginning on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Godfrey Stadium.

WEEK 6 RESULTS – 10/1/16
ADAMS STADIUM
Henderson (3-2, 3-0) 56, Sequoyah* (0-6, 0-4) 0
AVONDALE STADIUM
Chapel Hill* (4-1, 3-0) 22, Salem (1-5, 1-3) 0
Miller Grove (4-1, 2-1) 58, Renfroe* (1-5, 0-4) 0
GODFREY, STADIUM
Redan* (3-3, 2-2) 8, Stone Mountain (2-3, 0-3) 6
Stephenson (5-0, 3-0) 22, Lithonia* (2-3, 1-2) 12
Cedar Grove (4-1, 3-0) 26, McNair* (0-5, 0-3) 0
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Freedom* (4-1, 3-0) 8, Chamblee (1-4, 1-2) 6
Tucker* (5-0, 3-0) 22, Peachtree (3-2, 1-2) 0

Open: Bethune (4-1, 2-1), Champion (3-2, 2-1), Columbia (1-4, 1-2), Druid Hills (2-3, 1-2)

WEEK 7 SCHEDULE – 10/8/16
Fall Break – No Teams Play

WEEK 8 SCHEDULE – 10/15/16
ADAMS STADIUM
Druid Hills (2-3, 1-2) vs. Chamblee* (1-4, 1-2), 10:00 am
Stone Mountain (2-3, 0-3) vs. Peachtree* (3-2, 1-2), 11:30 am
AVONDALE STADIUM
Champion (3-2, 2-1) vs. Tucker* (5-0, 3-0), 10:00 am
Columbia (1-4, 1-2) vs. McNair* (0-5, 0-3), 11:30 am
Freedom (4-1, 3-0) vs. Henderson* (3-2, 3-0), 1:00 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Bethune (4-1, 2-1) vs. Lithonia* (2-3, 1-2), 10:00 am
Chapel Hill (4-1, 3-0) vs. Cedar Grove* (4-1, 3-0), 11:30 am
Miller Grove (4-1, 2-1) vs. Stephenson* (5-0, 3-0), 1:00 pm

Open: Renfroe (1-5, 0-4), Redan (3-3, 2-2), Salem (1-5, 1-3), Sequoyah (0-6, 0-4)