Lithonia quarterback Robert Hatchett III (10) rolls from pressure as he alludes Columbia defenders including Telvin Godfrey (5). (Photo by Mark Brock)

Lithonia quarterback Robert Hatchett III (10) rolls from pressure as he alludes Columbia defenders including Telvin Godfrey (5). (Photo by Mark Brock)

Senior quarterback Robert Hatchett III ran for one touchdown and threw for a second to lead the Lithonia Bulldogs to a 21-7 victory over the Columbia Eagles in the Region 5-5A opener for both teams at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.

Hatchett gave the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-0) a 7-0 lead with 3:47 to play in the first quarter on a roll out that turned into a 13-yard scramble for a touchdown. Shamar Hutchinson’s point after made it 7-0 to complete the 8-play, 81-yard drive.
A partially blocked punt on Columbia’s next possession set the Bulldogs up on the Eagle 36 and it took six plays for Lithonia to capitalize. Facing fourth and 6 at the Columbia 8-yard line, Hatchett rolled from pressure and threw to the end zone where a receiver tipped the ball and Kevah Brantley made a diving catch of the tipped ball for the touchdown. Hutchinson made it 14-0 with 10:22 to play in the first half.
The Eagles (2-4, 0-1) got their first scoring opportunity with 4:02 left in the half as the Eagles recovered a Bulldog fumble at the Lithonia 26. A penalty had the Eagles facing a second down and 17 when quarterback Tremaine Holloway found Giovanni Dyer over the middle for a 21-yard gain and a first down at the Bulldog 12.
Holloway would go the final 8 yards on a draw with 1:55 remaining in the half and Joshua Jenkins would tack on the point after kick to trim the Bulldog lead to 14-7 at the half.
The Bulldogs blocked their second punt of the game with 10:23 to play in the third quarter and were in business at the Eagle 39-yard line.
Hatchett would connect with Stephen Smith for a 22-yard game to the Eagle 7 to set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Kamarie Mullins to extend the lead to the final of 21-7 with 7:54 left in the third quarter.
Neither team really threatened to score the rest of the way until another partially blocked punt by the Bulldogs gave Lithonia the ball at the Columbia 45 with 3:08 to play.
The Bulldogs used 16 and 18 yard runs by Rayshad Baldwin to run out the clock driving to the Columbia 6 as time expired. The win gave Lithonia its fifth win over Columbia in the 17-game series (12-5 Columbia). Columbia had won 20-6 last season.
Arabia Mountain 44, Miller Grove 6
The Class 5A No. 8 ranked Arabia Mountain Rams rebounded from a 20-14 to Class 7A East Coweta two weeks ago with a 44-6 Region 5-5A opening win over the Miller Grove Wolverines on Friday at Avondale Stadium.
The Rams (5-1, 1-0) are off to their best start in the 8-year history of the football program in part due to a potent, high-paced offense and tough defense under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Stanley Pritchett and staff.
The high octane offense came out quickly in the first quarter for an 8-0 lead as Carl White III scored the first of his three touchdowns in the game on a 30-yard run.
Quarterback Samad Noble helped extend the lead to 22-0 at the half with second quarter touchdowns passes to Eric Ross (20 yards) and Desmond Rocker (40 yards).
Preseason All-State linebacker Terray Bryant’s interception early in the second half set the Rams up for another touchdown, a 15-yard run by Brandon Snowball for the score. White would tack on his final two touchdowns in the third quarter as the Rams took advantage of three turnovers and a blocked punt in the game.
Arabia Mountain went 7-3 in 2013 in the Rams’ only winning season, but had to win their final five games after a 2-3 start. The Rams now lead the series with Miller Grove 2-1 having won the last meeting 26-20 in 2013.
Cedar Grove's Jadon Haselwood crosses the goal line on the first of two third quarter touchdowns. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Cedar Grove’s Jadon Haselwood crosses the goal line on the first of two third quarter touchdowns. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Cedar Grove 28, Towers 0
Sophomore receiver Jadon Haselwood was on the receiving end of two third quarter Jelani Woods touchdown passes to help the Class 3A No. 9 ranked Cedar Grove Saints seal a Region 5-3A homecoming victory over the Towers Titans at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.

Woods and Haselwood hooked up on a wide receiver screen with the lead 14-0 with 9:09 to play in the third quarter to extend the lead to 21-0. Haselwood took the pass, made a defender miss and used a teammate’s block to glide into the end zone for the touchdown. Solee Fofana tacked on the point after for the 21-0 advantage.
Less than three minutes later the duo would hook up on a fly pattern as Haselwood ran past a defender and caught the pass in stride to race 74 yards into the end zone for the score. Fofana again was good on the point after to make it 28-0.
Neither team would threaten the rest of the way as Towers (2-4, 1-2) won the field position battle, but could not get anything going against the Saints’ defense. Towers managed just 58 yards of offense against Cedar Grove (4-2, 2-1).
Cedar Grove scored on its first drive of the game as Grant Walker went the final 16 yards on a 70-yard drive and Fofana’s kick made it 7-0 with 6:36 left in the first quarter.
Dennis Bell made it 14-0 with just 19 seconds left in the first period as he intercepted a pass and returned it 28 yards for the touchdown. Fofana sent the Saints into the half up 14-0 as he made good on the point after kick.
Redan 19, McNair 8
The Redan Raiders answered a fourth quarter rally by the McNair Mustangs to hold on for a 19-8 Region 5-3A homecoming victory at Hallford Stadium on Friday night.
McNair (3-3, 1-2) closed the game within 12-8 in the fourth quarter with a late touchdown and two-point conversion to put some pressure on the Raiders (2-4, 1-0).
Redan quarterback Xavier Dennis answered the call leading the Raiders on a 75-yard scoring drive which he completed with a 12-yard touchdown run to seal the victory.
Redan was up 12-0 in the first half on a 65-yard touchdown pass play from Dennis to Cori Pritchett and a Pritchett touchdown pass to DeAundre Tolen.
Pritchett added an interception and fumble recovery on defense as well. James Denson had a pair of sacks for the Raider defense and Joseph Monson and Jacob Collins added to the turnover margin with each coming up with a fumble recovery.
Redan leads the all-time series with McNair 13-5 with the win.
DCSD WEEK 8 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 7
ADAMS STADIUM
North Springs Charter (4-2) 55, Cross Keys (1-2) 0
Parkview (4-2, 1-1) 63, Lakeside (4-3, 1-2) 30
AVONDALE STADIUM
Arabia Mountain (5-1, 1-0) 44, Miller Grove (2-4, 0-1) 6
GODFREY STADIUM
Lithonia (2-4, 1-0) 21, Columbia (2-4, 0-1) 7
Cedar Grove (4-2, 2-1) 28, Towers (2-4, 1-2) 0
HALLFORD STADIUM
Redan (2-4, 1-2) 19, McNair (3-3, 1-2) 8
SW DeKalb (3-3, 1-0) 49, Chamblee (1-5, 0-1) 12
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Cambridge (4-2, 4-1) 55, Dunwoody (2-4, 1-3) 27
AWAY GAMES
Lovett (4-2, 3-1) 42, Stone Mountain (1-5, 0-3) 0
Luella (3-4, 1-2) 24, Druid Hills (2-5, 0-3) 0
OPEN
Clarkston (0-7), M.L. King (2-4, 0-3) Stephenson (3-3, 2-1), Tucker (5-1, 3-0)