Quarterback Austin Smith (4) and his Cedar Grove teammates are just one win away from clinching their third consecutive Region 5-3A title. (Photo by Mark Brock)
A third straight shutout for the Cedar Grove Saints moved them one step closer to clinching a third straight Region 5-3A championship as they defeated the Westminster Wildcats 21-0 on Friday night at Godfrey Stadium.
Junior defensive lineman led the charge with seven tackles including four tackles for a loss and a sack against the Wildcats. He was joined by senior linebacker Isaiah Ratcliff who contributed nine tackles, one sack and two tackles for a loss.
While the defense was holding Westminster (3-4) to just 21 yards of offense and two first downs, Chavon Wright (23 carries, 249yards) was carrying the offensive load for the Saints (6-2) starting with a seven0yard touchdown run in the second quarter to put the Saints up 7-0 at the half.
The score remained 7-0 heading into the fourth quarter when Wright struck for a 12-yard touchdown run as the lead increased to 14-0.
Junior defensive back Jordan Grier helped to seal the victory with a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown for the final margin of 21-0.
It was the Saints 22nd consecutive Region 5-3A victory and third straight over the Wildcats. Cedar Grove takes on Pace Academy (4-3, 2-2) next Friday in an 8:00 pm game at Godfrey Stadium with the opportunity to close out the region title.
In other Region 5-3A play involving DeKalb teams, the Stone Mountain Pirates knocked the Redan Raiders 30-20 to win their second consecutive game against the Raiders.
Dunwoody 32, Centennial 30
A 14-yard touchdown pass from Davis Ledoyen to Walt Anders with six seconds to play rallied the Dunwoody Wildcats to a 32-30 Region 7-6A victory over the Centennial Knights on Friday night at North DeKalb Stadium.
Centennial had taken a 30-25 lead with 47 seconds to play on an 80-yard Richard Shaw touchdown reception leaving the Wildcats (3-4, 2-3) under a minute to respond.
The big play to set up the winning score was pulled out of a bag of tricks as Tyler Eith pitched back Ledoyen who found David Julian for a 50-yard gain.
Ledoyen finished with 355 yards on 22 of 45 passing and three touchdowns. Eith had two touchdown catches while grabbing eight receptions for 147 yards. Cevon Mitchell had 16 tackles and Isaac Anderson added 12 for the Wildcats defense.
Southwest DeKalb’s Mekhi Gilstrap (7) tries to get away from two Miller Grove Wolverine defenders during the Panthers’ 41-14 win to improve to 2-0 in Region 5-5A. (Photo by Arielle Hayes.)
M.L. King 18, Forest Park 3
Adon Flukers ran for one touchdown and passed for a second to lead the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions to an 18-3 victory over the Forest Park Panthers at Tara Stadium last Thursday night.
Michael Fearn rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries for his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game.
The Lions defense was big in helping King improve to 6-1 overall and 4-1 holding Forest Park to 56 yards of total offense. Antravious Slatter (10 tackles, 4 for loss), Jomel Robinson (10 tackles), Keion Cush (7 tackles, 4 tackles, 1 sack) and Marquel Parks (5 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 for loss) led the smothering defense for the Lions.
Lithonia 20, Chamblee 9
Two defensive scores aided the Lithonia Bulldogs (2-5, 1-1) in winning a Region 5-5A game against the Chamblee Bulldogs (0-6, 0-2) 20-9 at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.
Asmar Hasan returned a fumble 35 yards for one score and Damarion Davis a second 10 yards in Lithonia’s win. Demetrius Taylor carried the ball 19 times for 167 yards to lead the Lithonia offense.
Chamblee’s Xander Smith returned a fumble for a touchdown and Will Burton added the PAT to tie the game at 7-7.
Chris Rogers tackled the Lithonia punter in the end zone for a safety for Chamblee.
The Bulldogs got back into the playoff race with the win by staying one-game out of first behind Southwest DeKalb (6-1, 2-0), a 41-14 winner over Miller Grove (0-7, 0-2), and Columbia (2-5, 2-0), a 12-6 winner over Arabia Mountain (1-5, 1-1).
Southwest DeKalb quarterback Rion White threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown to lead the Panthers in their win over Miller Grove.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 17 – WEEK 9
AWAY
M.L. King (6-1) 18, Forest Park (1-6) 3
Friday, Oct. 18
ADAMS STADIUM
Norcross (2-5) 52, Lakeside (0-8) 13
AVONDALE STADIUM
Columbia (2-5) 12, Arabia Mountain (1-6) 6
GODFREY STADIUM
Cedar Grove (6-2) 21, Westminster (3-4) 0
HALLFORD STADIUM
SW DeKalb (6-1) 41, Miller Grove (0-7) 14
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Dunwoody (3-4) 32, Centennial (0-7) 30
AWAY
Union Grove (5-2) 62, Clarkston (0-8) 0
North Clayton (2-5) 6, Druid Hills (2-5) 0
Stephenson (6-1) 28, Mundy’s Mill (3-5) 6
Saturday, Oct. 19
GODFREY STADIUM
Lithonia (2-5) 20, Chamblee (0-6) 7
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stone Mountain (2-5) 30, Redan (3-4) 20
Open: Cross Keys (0-8), McNair (0-7), Towers (2-5), Tucker (4-3)