Lakeside’s Max Guggemos (with ball) ran for 1,300 yards and 16 TDs in 2016. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Seventeen of the 19 DeKalb County Schools (DCSD) high school football programs open the 2017 season this weekend highlighted by the county rivalry between Class 3A No. 4 ranked Cedar Grove and Stephenson.

Stephenson holds a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series as the Jaguars host the Saints at 8:00 pm on Friday at Hallford Stadium.

The Saints are coming off their first ever state championship following their 2016 30-19 Class 3A title victory over Greater Atlanta Christian last December. They also picked up their second victory in the series with a 34-23 victory against the Jaguars in 2016.

Coach Jermaine Smith’s squad lost several FBS signees a year ago, but return highly touted junior wide receiver/defensive back Jadon Haselwood (812 yards receiving, 12 TDs) along with offensive weapons running back Demetrius Tharpe (532 yards, 4 TDs) and all-around athlete Israel Spivey (4 receiving TDs) on offense. Xavier Dennis comes in at quarterback after throwing for over 1,400 yards and 10 TDs at Redan last season and rushing for 512 yards and 5 TDs.

The linebacking duo of sophomore Isaiah Ratcliff and junior William Jenkins teamed up for 117 tackles, including 18.5 tackles for a loss in 2016. Senior defensive end Roderic Forts (67 tackles, 27 TFL, 7 sacks) will be bookended with Georgia commit defensive end Rashad Cheney who transferred in this year.

The Jaguars return a pair of experienced senior defensive ends of their own in Darius Perry (71 tackles, 9 TFL, 4 sacks, 17 quarterback hurries) and Dionte Gibson (52 tackles, 8 TFL, 1 sack, 12 QBH) of their 8-5 Class 6A Elite 8 team from 2016.

Stephenson reloaded at running back with junior Jevon Goff and sophomore Deondre Jackson who will lead the young offense into the season.

Another big DCSD football rivalry renews for the 26th time as the Lakeside Vikings host the Dunwoody Wildcats in a 7:30 pm kickoff at Adams Stadium on Friday in a series led by the Vikings 15-9-1 overall.

Lakeside comes in with Class 7A Preseason All-State running back Max Guggemos (1,342 yards rushing, 16 TDs) along with the pitch and catch tandem of senior quarterback Matthew Holt (941 yards, 8 TDs in 8 games) and big senior wideout Demonte Pressley (29 receptions, 621 yards, 5 TDs).

Dunwoody has a big play threat in 6-4 receiver Turner Nims (43 receptions, 942 yard, 8 TDs) to go with returnees in the backfield in senior Ethan Haas and Zack Pankey.

The Battle of the Mountains returns for the sixth time as the Arabia Mountain Rams coming off their best season in school history travels to Avondale Stadium on Friday for a 7:30 pm meeting with the Stone Mountain Pirates.

The Rams under Coach Stanley Pritchett finished 9-3 with their first ever playoff appearance that included their first playoff victory (34-14 over Villa Rica) as they advanced to the Class 5A Sweet 16.

Stone Mountain broke a string of 22 consecutive losses last year, but finished 1-9 on the season. Arabia Mountain leads the series 4-1 after taking a 50-0 victory last year.

The game is the first game in the newly renovated Avondale Stadium with new artificial turf and lights.

Tucker’s Taurean Taylor ran for 1,315 yards and 16 TDs on the Tigers’ run to the state championship game. (Photo by Mark Brock)

The Class 6A Preseason No. 1 ranked Tucker Tigers get a rematch with the Class 5A No. 6 ranked Kell Longhorns in the Corky Kell Classic on Saturday with a 9:00 am kickoff at the new Georgia State University Stadium in Atlanta.

The Tigers lost a tough 20-13 decision in the Georgia Dome to Kell a year ago before going on a 13-game win streak to reach the Class 6A state title game before dropping a hard fought 17-7 decision to Valdosta.

Senior running back Taurean Taylor (1,315 yards, 16 TDs) and Class 6A Preseason All-State receiver Joshua Vann (63 receptions, 1286 yards, 13 TDs) return as big play threats for the Tigers.

The defense is led by senior linebackers Tre Leslie (82 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 sacks) and Gerry Vaughn (79 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks) along with senior defensive end Antonio Showers (63 tackles, 9 TFL, 9 sacks).

The game will be televised live on the NFHS Network.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
Friday, Aug. 18
Carver-Atl vs. Lithonia, Godfrey, 5:15 pm
Miller Grove vs. Clarkston, Hallford, 5:15 pm
Dunwoody vs. Lakeside, Adams, 7:30 pm
Arabia Mountain vs. Stone Mountain, Avondale, 7:30 pm
Druid Hills vs. Chamblee, North DeKalb, 7:30 pm
Redan vs. SW DeKalb, Godfrey, 8:00 pm
Cedar Grove vs. Stephenson, Hallford, 8:00 pm

Saturday, Aug. 19
Tucker vs. Kell, Georgia State, 9:00 am
Forest Park vs. Towers, Avondale, 7:30 pm
M.L. King vs. Columbia, Hallford, 7:30 pm