Arabia Mountain running back Brandon Snowball (5) had the game clinching 60-yard touchdown run in the Rams Region 5-5A title game with Southwest DeKalb. (File photo by Mark Brock)
Two potent offenses were held in check as defense was dominant most of the night in Arabia Mountain’s Region 5-5A title game 14-7 victory over Southwest DeKalb at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.
The No. 8 ranked Rams (8-1, 4-0) came up big on defense most of the night, but twice in the final 3:28 of the game. Silas Butler came up with a big interception in the end zone at the 3:28 mark to stop a big Panther’s (5-4, 3-1) scoring threat.
When the offense failed to run out the clock following the interception, the defense was again asked to protect the lead in the final moments of the game. The Panthers drove to the Rams’ 25 where the Rams stiffened once again forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down to preserve the big 14-7 victory.
The victory not only gave the Rams a program best 8 wins on the season, but its first ever region title and playoff berth in the 8-year history of the program.
The Rams offense answered after Southwest DeKalb’s Jamel Starks scored on a two-yard touchdown run on third and goal in the fourth quarter to knot the game at 7-7 following Marquel Crowder’s point after attempt sailed through.
Senior running back Brandon Snowball struck for the Rams on their possession following the tying score as he went 60 yards for the final lead of the game. Kameron Ward added the point after for the 14-7 final.
The Rams had led 7-0 at the half on a four-yard pass from Bryson Williams to Josh Campbell late in the first quarter.
Arabia Mountain wraps up the season on 7:30 pm at Hallford on Saturday against DeKalb County and Region 5-5A foe Lithonia (4-5, 3-1) which defeated Miller Grove 77-14 on Saturday at Avondale Stadium to secure the Region’s No. 3 seed heading into Class 5A state playoffs in two weeks.
Stephenson quarterback D’Vonn Gibbons (6) had a pair of touchdown passes in the Jaguars’ 41-12 win over the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions. (File photo by Mark Brock)
Stephenson 41, M.L. King Jr. 12
The Stephenson Jaguars scored 41 consecutive points after trailing 6-0 in the first quarter to DeKalb County and Region 4-6A foes Martin Luther King Jr. Lions on the way to a 41-12 victory at Hallford Stadium on Friday night.
The Lions (2-7, 0-6) scored on their opening drive on an Andreas Wyatt one-yard run in the first quarter to take the 6-0 lead and get the retirement of former running back Mack Brown’s No. 33 and Homecoming off to a good start. Brown is sixth all-time on the DeKalb County career rushing list with 3,994 yards and 42 touchdowns.
Darien Tisdale’s point after gave the Jaguars (6-3, 4-1) the lead for good with 3:04 left in the first quarter following a 24-yard touchdown pass from D’Vonn Gibbons to Khalil Newton.
The Jaguars would score three times in the second quarter to take a 27-6 halftime lead. Hasaan Littles scored twice on runs of 4 and 5 yards while Shaun Jolly added a punt return for a score in the quarter as well.
Marquis Whitmire hauled in a 38-yard pass from Gibbons with 9:59 remaining in the third quarter and Eric Johnson would add a pick-6 as the lead grew to 41-12.
Wyatt connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Emory Johnson for the final margin of 41-12.
The victory set up a big Region 4-6A game against DeKalb County rivals and region leaders Tucker Tigers (8-1, 6-0) at 7:30 pm on Friday at Hallford Stadium where a Stephenson victory could force a three-way tie atop the standings with Lovejoy (6-4, 6-1). Tucker remained undefeated in region play with a convincing 45-0 victory on the road against Mt. Zion-Jonesboro on Thursday night.
Cedar Grove 64, McNair 0
The No. 6 ranked Cedar Grove Saints behind three touchdown passes by quarterback Jelani Woods continued to build momentum towards the Class 3A state playoffs with a 64-0 Region 5-3A victory over DeKalb County rival McNair at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.
The No. 6 ranked Cedar Grove Saints behind three touchdown passes by quarterback Jelani Woods continued to build momentum towards the Class 3A state playoffs with a 64-0 Region 5-3A victory over DeKalb County rival McNair at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.
Woods connected twice with Dennis Bell and once with Jadon Hazelwood through the air for scores. Grant Walker also added a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Saints (7-2, 5-1). Cedar Grove is the Region 5-3A No. 2 seed heading into the state playoffs in two weeks.
The Saints wrap up the regular season with a Region 5-3A battle with Redan (3-6, 2-4), a 31-17 winner over Stone Mountain on Saturday night. The two rivals meet at 7:30 pm on Saturday at Godfrey Stadium.
Chamblee 13, Columbia 6
Chamblee defensive lineman Robert Murry and the Bulldog defense kept Columbia scoreless for over three quarters in the Bulldogs 13-6 victory. (File photo by Mark Brock)
The Chamblee Bulldogs rallied from a 6-0 halftime deficit to the Columbia Eagles to pull out a 13-6 Region 5-5A victory on the back of a fourth quarter pick-six.
Columbia (2-7, 0-4) struck on the opening drive of the game for the early 6-0 lead, but a two-point conversion was stopped by the Bulldogs.
The teams battled back and forth in the first half as the Eagles took the 6-0 lead into the break.
Chamblee (2-7, 1-3) knotted the game 6-6 in the third quarter on a Stuart Steel touchdown pass to tight end Arthur Murray. Columbia blocked the point after try to keep the game tied a 6-6.
With just over two-minutes to play in the game Chamblee defensive end Josh Tate intercepted a Columbia pass and returned it 25 yards for the go-ahead score. The Bulldogs who had lost 24-10 to Columbia last season took the 13-6 lead.
Columbia got its last opportunity to answer, but the Bulldog defense held tough to secure the win and match last year’s two-win total.
DCSD WEEK 11 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
HOME GAMES
Friday, Oct. 28
ADAMS STADIUM
Woodward Acad. (9-1, 6-0) 35, Druid Hills (3-6, 1-4) 6
Lakeside (5-4, 2-3) 44, Berkmar (010, 0-6) 17
HOME GAMES
Friday, Oct. 28
ADAMS STADIUM
Woodward Acad. (9-1, 6-0) 35, Druid Hills (3-6, 1-4) 6
Lakeside (5-4, 2-3) 44, Berkmar (010, 0-6) 17
AVONDALE STADIUM
Westminster (7-2, 6-0) 44, Towers (4-5, 3-3) 14
Westminster (7-2, 6-0) 44, Towers (4-5, 3-3) 14
GODFREY STADIUM
Cedar Grove (7-2, 5-1) 64, McNair (3-6, 1-5) 0
Arabia Mountain (8-1, 4-0) 14, SW DeKalb (5-4, 3-1) 7
Cedar Grove (7-2, 5-1) 64, McNair (3-6, 1-5) 0
Arabia Mountain (8-1, 4-0) 14, SW DeKalb (5-4, 3-1) 7
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stephenson (6 -3, 5-1) 41, M.L. King (2-7, 0-6) 12
Stephenson (6 -3, 5-1) 41, M.L. King (2-7, 0-6) 12
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Alpharetta (6-3, 5-2) 52, Dunwoody (2-7, 1-6) 17
Saturday, Oct. 29
AVONDALE STADIUM
Lithonia (4-5, 3-1) 77, Miller Grove (3-6, 1-3) 14
Lithonia (4-5, 3-1) 77, Miller Grove (3-6, 1-3) 14
HALLFORD STADIUM
Forest Park (1-9) 47, Clarkston (1-8) 0
Redan (3-6, 2-4) 31, Stone Mountain (1-8, 0-6) 14
Forest Park (1-9) 47, Clarkston (1-8) 0
Redan (3-6, 2-4) 31, Stone Mountain (1-8, 0-6) 14
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Chamblee (2-7, 1-3) 13, Columbia (2-7, 0-4) 6
Chamblee (2-7, 1-3) 13, Columbia (2-7, 0-4) 6
AWAY GAMES
Thursday, Oct. 27
Tucker (8-1, 6-0) 45, Mt. Zion-Jonesboro (3-6, 2-4) 0
Thursday, Oct. 27
Tucker (8-1, 6-0) 45, Mt. Zion-Jonesboro (3-6, 2-4) 0
Friday, Oct. 28
Patuala Charter (1-5) 34, Cross Keys (1-5) 14
Patuala Charter (1-5) 34, Cross Keys (1-5) 14