The football season is past the halfway mark and many DeKalb County football teams are battling for playoff seeding and two big games are on tap in DeKalb on Friday (today).

Lovejoy (4-3, 4-0) is atop the Region 4-6A standings and travels to Adams Stadium tonight at 7:30 to take on the Tucker Tigers (5-1, 3-0) who want to move into the top spot heading into the final three weeks of play.

The Class 6A No. 6 ranked Tigers are averaging 38.2 points per game and 225 yards rushing behind the tandem of senior Chris Broadwater (504 yards, 8 TDs) and junior Taurean Taylor (393 yards, 7 TDs).

Quarterback Xavier Shephard is hitting on 62 percent of passes (43 of 69) for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns. His main target is junior receiver Josh Vann (25 receptions, 547 yards, 6 TDs) who continues to make big plays in the passing game.

Defensively, the Tigers are giving up just 10.7 points per game led by junior defensive end Antonio Showers (31 tackles, 5 sacks, 7 TFL, 3 forced fumbles, 1 INT for TD, 1 fumble recovery) and senior defensive lineman and recent touchdown club lineman of the week Aaron Sterling (24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7 TFL, 1 Int, 1 fumble recovery).

Lovejoy is led by running back Zion Custis (804 yards, 6 TDs) and quarterback John Seter (208 yards passing per game).

Stephenson vs. Drew
Another key Region 4-6A game pits the Stephenson Jaguars (3-3, 2-1) against Drew (2-4, 2-1) in a 7:30 pm game at Southern Crescent Stadium as the two teams battle for what could be the No. 3 seed heading into the state playoffs.

The Jaguars are led on the ground by senior running back Jaylen Marson-Knight (578 yards, 5 TDs, 96.3 yards/game). Senior quarterback D’Vonn Gibbons (724 yards, 9 TDs) triggers the air attack with his big target being senior Khalil Newton (15 receptions, 355 yards, 5 TDs).

Junior quarterback Gary Tyner leads the Drew Titans on the ground and in the air.

Pace vs. Cedar Grove
A Region 5-3A battle for at least the No. 2 seed looms at Godfrey Stadium as Class 3A No. 4 ranked Pace Academy (4-2, 2-1) and No. 9 ranked Cedar Grove (4-2, 2-1) lineup at 7:30 pm.

The Saints are led by senior running back Grant Walker (667 yards, 4 TDs) and senior quarterback Jelani Woods (116 yards rushing, 7 TDs; 1,024 yards passing, 8 TDs, 63 percent (67-106).

Woods has a pair of big targets on the outside in sophomore Jadon Haselwood (26 receptions, 430 yards, 4 TDs) and Dennis Bell (10 receptions, 249 yards, 2 TDs).

Senior defensive end DeAngelo Malone is the big disrupter on defense for the Saints with 41 tackles (6.5 sacks, 15 TFL) and senior linebacker Dezmond Harris (45 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack) solidifies the front seven on defense.

Pace is led by running back Deon Jackson (660 yards rushing) who ran for 276 yards in a loss to Westminster a week ago.

Saturday night games feature Towers (2-4, 1-2) hosting homecoming against Stone Mountain (1-5, 0-3) in Region 5-3A play at Avondale Stadium (7:30 pm) and Lithonia (2-4, 1-0) has its homecoming against Chamblee (1-5, 0-1) at Hallford Stadium (7:30 pm).

Class 5A No. 8 ranked Arabia Mountain goes for its sixth win of the season as the Rams (5-1, 1-0) host Columbia (2-4, 0-1) on Saturday at Godfrey Stadium (7:30 pm). It is Arabia Mountain’s homecoming.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 14
ADAMS STADIUM
Lovejoy (4-3, 4-0) vs. Tucker (5-1, 3-0), 7:30 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
Westminster (4-2, 3-0) vs. McNair (3-3, 1-2), 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Pace (4-2, 2-1) vs. Cedar Grove (4-2, 2-1), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Cross Keys (1-2) vs. Clarkston (0-7) (HC), 5:15 pm
Miller Grove (2-4, 0-1) vs. SW DeKalb (3-3, 1-0), 8:00 pm

AWAY GAMES
Dunwoody (2-4, 1-3) at Pope (1-5, 1-3), 7:30 pm
Lakeside (4-3, 1-2) at Norcross (6-0, 2-0), 7:30 pm
M.L. King (2-4, 0-3) vs. Jonesboro (0-6, 0-3), Tara, 7:30 pm
Redan (2-4, 1-2) at Lovett (4-2, 2-1), 7:30 pm
Stephenson (3-3, 2-1) vs. Drew (2-4, 2-1), Southern Crescent, 7:30 pm

Saturday, Oct. 15
AVONDALE STADIUM
Stone Mountain (1-5, 0-3) vs. Towers (2-4, 1-2) (HC), 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Columbia (2-4, 0-1) vs. Arabia Mountain (5-1, 1-0), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Chamblee (1-5, 0-1) vs. Lithonia (2-4, 1-0) (HC), 7:30 pm