Stephenson running back Ryan Ingram (with ball) runs behind his offensive line. Ingram rushed for 162 yards and 3 touchdowns in last week’s win over Drew. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Two weeks are left in the high school football season with games becoming more important as DeKalb County teams position for playoff spots in Region 4-6A and Region 5-5A.
All three DeKalb programs playing in Region 4-6A have key games for their playoff chances and seedings on the line this weekend.
The Tucker Tigers (5-3, 5-1) and the No. 10 ranked Stephenson Jaguars (7-1, 5-1) are tied atop the standings with wins this weekend setting up another Region 4-6A championship game at Hallford Stadium next week.
Stephenson has to go on the road to face Lovejoy (5-3, 4-2) at 7:30 pm on Friday at Twelve Oaks Stadium. Lovejoy’s two losses are to DeKalb foes Tucker and Martin Luther King Jr. (6-2, 4-2) and is fighting for a playoff spot.
Tucker plays host to the Mt. Zion-Jonesboro Bulldogs (3-6, 3-4), which gave Stephenson its only loss of the season back on September 12 by a score of 14-9, at 7:30 pm on Friday at Adams Stadium.
A Jaguar win over Lovejoy coupled with a King victory over Charles Drew (1-7, 1-5) on Friday at Southern Crescent Stadium at 7:30 pm would seal the Lions first playoff spot since the 2013 season.
Morrow (5-4, 5-2) is idle this weekend and faces King next week with playoff implications facing all the teams as the Mustangs knocked off Tucker 19-14 on October 21.
Southwest DeKalb’s Khoreem Miller (22) rushed for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns in last week’s big 34-14 Region 5-5A win over Lithonia. He and his teammates take on region foe Arabia Mountain on Saturday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Region 5-5A
Three games in Region 5-5A action this weekend could clinch the home and away teams for the state playoffs and set up a championship game featuring the Columbia Eagles (3-5, 3-0) and Southwest DeKalb Panthers (7-1, 3-0) next weekend.
Columbia hosts senior night against the Chamblee Bulldogs (0-7, 0-3) in an 8:30 pm kickoff at Avondale Stadium on Friday night as part of a doubleheader. A win by the Eagles would put them in position to win the program’s first region title since 1981 (5-3A) when they advanced to the state championship game.
Southwest DeKalb locks horns with the Arabia Mountain Rams (2-6, 2-1) on Saturday night at Hallford Stadium with the chance to remain undefeated in region play and set up the championship matchup with Columbia next week. The Panthers have 17 region titles in school history after going undefeated in the regular season last year to claim the 2018 title.
The Rams won the 5-5A title in 2016 and 2017 and could put a kink in determining the champion with an upset of the Panthers on Saturday night.
The Lithonia Bulldogs (2-6, 1-2) and Miller Grove Wolverines (0-8, 0-3) meet on Friday at 8:00 pm at Godfrey Stadium with more playoff implications. A win by the Bulldogs would clinch a playoff spot and put next week’s game against Arabia Mountain into one of improving their seeding.
A win by Miller Grove could propel the Wolverines into the playoff picture with a game remaining against Chamblee on the final week of the season.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday, November 1 – Week 11
ADAMS STADIUM
Mt. Zion-Jonesboro (3-6) vs. Tucker (5-3), 7:30 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
South Atlanta (5-3 vs. McNair (0-8), 5:15 pm
Chamblee (0-7) vs. Columbia (3-5), 8:00 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Miller Grove (0-8) vs. Lithonia (2-6), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Lovett (6-2) vs. Redan (3-5), 7:15 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Westminster (4-4) vs. Stone Mountain (3-5), 7:30 pm
AWAY GAMES
Lakeside (0-8) at Berkmar (3-5), 7:30 pm
Dunwoody (3-5) at Chattahoochee (2-6), 7:30 pm
M.L. King (6-2) vs. Charles Drew (1-7), Southern Crescent, 7:30 pm
Stephenson (7-1) vs. Lovejoy (5-3), Twelve Oaks, 7:30 pm
Druid Hills (2-6) at Hampton (4-4), Sharp, 7:30 pm
Towers (2-6) at Pace Academy (4-4), Riverview Complex, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 2
HALLFORD STADIUM
Arabia Mountain (2-6) vs. SW DeKalb (7-1), 7:30 pm
Open: Cedar Grove (7-2), Clarkston (0-9), Cross Keys (0-9)