A Week 6 battle for the top of the Region 3 standings is now on tap after the Salem Lions knocked off Freedom 26-20 last Saturday at Avondale Stadium.

The win improved the Lions’ record to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the region with undefeated Miller Grove (4-0, 2-0), which had an open date this past weekend, up next at 10:00 am on Saturday at Hallford Stadium.

Jadan Baugh put together another big week for the Lions rushing for over 100 yards for the second consecutive week. He scored three rushing touchdowns in the game, returned a kickoff for a touchdown and added seven tackles on defense.

Brandon Robinson had a big fourth down reception for 27 yards to set up Baugh’s first touchdown of the game. Sakaun Foster was on the receiving end of a key two-point conversion that gave the Lions some breathing room in the second half.

Freedom (1-3, 0-2) pulled within 26-20 with a late touchdown, but Salem’s Tyler Todman recovered the onside kick in the final seconds to clinch the win.

Cedar Grove 16, Bethune 6
The Cedar Grove Saints (4-0, 2-0) rallied past the defending Trail to the Title champions Bethune Lions (1-3, 1-1) 16-6 on Saturday at Avondale Stadium.

Bethune scored on a 72-yard, quarterback keeper to jump out in front 6-0. Boeden Walker’s 60-yard run helped the Saints get ahead as the Saints defense held Bethune scoreless the rest of the way.

Walker and Lakhi Roland both had interceptions to aid the Saints’ defensive effort. Bethune can still find its way into the playoffs with Region 4 games left against Chapel Hill (3-1, 2-0) on Saturday and Columbia (3-2, 1-2) in Week 7.

Columbia 35, McNair 0
The Columbia Eagles (3-2, 1-2) put up a 35-0 shutout of the McNair Colts (1-4, 0-3) on Saturday at Godfrey Stadium.

Columbia got touchdowns on the ground from Carlite Dozier (17 yards), Tywonn Bryant (15 yards) and Jeffrey Barnes (3 yards). Bryant also added touchdown passes of 20 and 65 yards to the scoring.

Defensive lineman Nicholas Paul picked off a pass in the defensive effort for the Eagles.

Tucker 16, Chamblee 14
An interception inside of two minutes to play helped the Tucker Tigers (2-3, 2-1) hold off the Chamblee Bulldogs (2-3, 2-1) on Saturday at North DeKalb Stadium.

Cozze’ Myer led the Bulldogs with a 15-yard touchdown run and a 20-yard interception return for another score in the game.

The win helps Tucker move back into playoff contention heading into their bye week on Saturday. Chamblee takes on undefeated Henderson on Saturday at Adams Stadium with kickoff set for 11:30 am in a key game in the playoff hunt.

Lithonia 18, Redan 0
The Lithonia Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1) defense combined for nine tackles for a loss in an 18-0 shutout of the Redan Raiders (1-4, 0-3) on Saturday at Godfrey Stadium.

Linebacker Tremel Lewis was all over the field for the Bulldogs with seven total tackles (four for a loss), and forced two fumbles in the dominating defensive effort. Lewis also added a rushing touchdown on offense.

Safety Khapri Wilson led the way with five tackles for a loss on six tackles while defensive tackle Wesley Covert was tough in the middle with four tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovered.

Running back Chris Cody was stout on offense with four carries for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Gh’Kai Wilkes added 34 yards rushing on seven carries.

Renfroe 18, Stone Mountain 12 (OT)
One of the most exciting games last week was played at Hallford Stadium as the winless Stone Mountain Pirates (0-4, 0-2) pushed the Renfroe Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1) to the brink in a tough 18-12 overtime loss.

It was the Pirates defense that stood out in the game led by Exauce Omeonga, Nasir Beck and Nate Simmons. Omeonga and Beck both scored on interception returns for the Pirates while Simmons added two more interceptions.

Renfroe managed to score in overtime and hold the Pirates to pull out the win to stay in second place in the Region 2 standings.

Champion 42, Druid Hills 0
The Champion Chargers (5-0, 3-0) kept a firm hold on the top spot in the Region 2 standings with a 42-0 shutout of the Druid Hills Dragons (1-3, 0-2) on Saturday at Hallford Stadium.

Arrington Watkins rushed for a touchdown (two yards) and threw a 23-yard scoring strike to Jordan Toney to lead the Chargers’ offense in the win. Julian Shanks added a 63-yard touchdown pass play to Maliq Eubanks and Channing Henderson ran 12 yards for another score.

The defense also picked up a pair of touchdowns behind a 100-yard fumble return by Daniel Ndukwe and a 64-yard interception return by Jordan Miller.

See link below for Week 5 Standings:

Week 5 Middle School Football Standings

DCSD MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL RESULTS
Saturday, Sept. 21 – Week 5
Adams Stadium
Henderson (4-0) 64, Sequoyah (2-4) 0

Avondale Stadium
Salem (4-1) 26, Freedom (1-3) 20
Cedar Grove (4-0) 16, Bethune (1-3) 6

Godfrey Stadium
Columbia (3-2) 35, McNair (1-4) 0
Lithonia (2-2) 18, Redan (1-4) 0

Hallford Stadium
Champion (5-0) 42, Druid Hills (1-3) 0
Renfroe (4-1) 18, Stone Mountain (0-4) 12

North DeKalb Stadium
Tucker (2-3) 16, Chamblee (2-3) 14

Open: Chapel Hill (3-1), Miller Grove (4-0), Stephenson (2-2)

DCSD MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Saturday, Sept. 28 – Week 6
Adams Stadium
Henderson (4-0) vs. Chamblee (2-3), 11:30 am

Avondale Stadium
Lithonia (2-2) vs. Freedom (1-3), 10:00 am
Stone Mountain (0-4) vs. Champion (5-0), 11:30 am

Godfrey Stadium
Chapel Hill (3-1) vs. Bethune (1-3), 10:00 am
Cedar Grove (4-0) vs. McNair (1-4), 11:30 am

Hallford Stadium
Miller Grove (4-0) vs. Salem (4-1), 10:00 am
Stephenson (2-2) vs. Druid Hills (1-3), 11:30 am

Open: Columbia (3-2), Redan (1-4), Renfroe (4-1), Tucker (2-3)