Stephenson’s Rahim Diarrassouba dives into the end zone in front of Mays defender James Copeland (9) as teammate Mikail Williams (6) signals touchdown. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The No. 4 ranked Stephenson Jaguars jumped out to a 12-0 first quarter lead and held off the Mays Raiders for a 15-7 Region 6-4A victory at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.
In a game marred by penalties, Stephenson overcame getting a 34-yard touchdown pass called back on its first drive by scoring on the very next play. Quarterback Sedrick Hill threw deep over the middle for 39 yards to Rahim Diarrassouba who went up between a pair of Mays defenders, hauled in the pass and dove into the end zone for the opening score of the game. The PAT was no good and the Jaguars (4-0, 3-0) led 6-0 with 6:50 left in the first quarter.
Five plays into Mays’ first drive of the game Stephenson defensive back Dorian Helm stepped in front of Quintavious Johnson’s pass towards the right sideline for a 65-yard pick six. Stephenson again missed the PAT to take a 12-0 lead into the second quarter.
The Jaguars got the ball with 2:46 left in the first half and began seven-play, 68-yard drive to line-up a field goal with four seconds left in the half.
Hill and Diarrassouba connected on the big play in the drive as the receiver got position on the sideline and hauled in the pass while getting a foot in bounds for a 36-yard gain to the Mays 19 as the clock was winding down. Hill then hit Quashaun Johnson for a seven-yard gain that would bring in Emmanuel Rios for the field goal attempt.
Rios out of the hold of Diarrassouba connected on the 29-yard field goal to send the Jaguars to the half up 15-0.
Stephenson defensive back Dorian Helm (2) returns an interception 65 yards for a touchdown against Mays. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The third quarter went scoreless as the Jaguars defense stopped Mays on a fourth and goal at the Jaguar five as Matthew Carbon dropped Quintavious Johnson for a three-yard loss at the eight.
Stephenson’s Quashaun Johnson ran for five-yards into Mays territory, but an unsportsmanlike conduct call after the play on the Jaguars ended up forcing a fourth and 17. The snap on the punt went over punter Etsomefa Elavewo’s head who chased the ball down and tried to advance it, but was tackled on the Stephenson 16.
The Jaguars thought they had stopped Mays again as a pass went incomplete on third and six at the 12, but a flag for pass interference came flying in to give Mays a first down at the Jaguar six-yard line. Three plays later Quintavious Johnson bulled his way into the end zone for the touchdown. Elijah Byner added the PAT to cut the Jaguar lead to 15-7 with 4:12 to play.
Terrance Guffie, who had 21 carries for 126 yards on the night, ran the ball five consecutive times for 30 yards as the Jaguars ran out the clock to seal the win. Stephenson attempted one pass in the second half after Hill went four of five for 85 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Quintavious Johnson rushed for 59 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown to go with 86 yards passing to account for 145 of Mays’ 189 yards of offense in the game.
Arabia Mountain’s Cecil Davis (5) with help from teammate Damion Fitzpatrick (1) bring down Marist running back Justin Hartwell. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Marist 33, Arabia Mountain 3
The No. 1 ranked Marist War Eagles knocked off the Arabia Mountain Rams 33-3 at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night despite a tough defensive effort by the Rams.
The Rams (2-3, 2-2) opened the game driving to the Marist 19 before stalling. Andre Teague connected on a 36-yard field goal give Arabia a 3-0 lead with 8:23 to play in the first quarter. The drive was keyed by a 37-yard run by Xavier Wallace.
Marist (5-0, 2-0) answered by driving 69 yards for a touchdown kick started by a 38-yard run by Justin Hartwell. Thomas Rollauer capped the drive with a two-yard run for the touchdown. Dawson Jones was good on the PAT to make it 7-3 with 4:16 left in the first quarter.
A mix-up by the Rams on a pooch kick following the Marist touchdown gave the War Eagles the ball back at the Ram 27. Two plays later Andrew Mannelly crashed in on a seven-yard run up the gut. Jones PAT made it 14-3 with 3:26 remaining in the quarter.
Marist got the ball with 3:53 to play in the first half and drove 77 yards in eight plays to add on to its lead with just 33 seconds on the second quarter clock. Hayden Richardson threw into the flat to Rollauer who turned up field for a 15-yard scoring play. Jones made it 21-0 going into the half.
Neither team got much going in the third quarter as the score remained 21-3 heading into the final period of play.
Marist intercepted a tipped pass at the Rams’ 48 with 11:06 to play and cashed in on Mannelly’s 12-yard touchdown run with 6:00 to play. Arabia Mountain blocked the PAT to keep it a 27-3 game.
Arabia Mountain was pinned deep on the kickoff and a punt from their own 13 was returned to the 16 setting up the final score of the night. Lincoln Parker scored on the first play to make it 33-3.
Miller Grove 28, Salem 6
The Miller Grove Wolverines held the Salem Seminoles to just one score with another good defensive effort on the way to a 28-6 non-region victory at Salem on Friday.
Stephen Bacon and Jarvis Stewart helped the Wolverines (2-3) control the football as both rushed for over 100 yards in the game.
Salem fell to 1-2 on the season with the loss.
Other wins for DeKalb on Friday night included Chamblee (3-1) defeating North Springs (0-7) 24-16 and Lithonia (1-4, 1-3) picked up its first win of the season 28-20 over Northview (2-4, 1-2).
Chamblee grabbed its third win of the season behind a combined 250 yards rushing by Brayson Seaborne and Curt McCorvey. Seaborne, Finn Allers and Fabian Walker all scored touchdowns in the win and Will Burton added a 28-yard field goal along with three PATs. Jameel Avery had his second two interception night of the season.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 5
Friday, Oct. 30
ADAMS STADIUM
Duluth (5-2) 61, Lakeside (0-5) 0
AVONDALE STADIUM
KIPP (2-2, 1-2) vs. Columbia (3-1, 3-1), 7:30 pm (PPD)
HALLFORD STADIUM
Marist (5-0, 2-0) 33, Arabia Mountain (2-3, 2-2) 3
Stephenson (4-0, 3-0) 15, Mays (3-5, 1-3) 7
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Meadowcreek (3-5, 2-2) 41, Dunwoody (0-5, 0-3) 3
AWAY GAMES
Chamblee (3-1) 24, North Springs (0-7) 16
Lithonia (1-4, 1-3) 28, Northview (2-4, 1-2) 20
Decatur (4-0, 3-0) 34, M.L. King (1-4, 1-2) 14
Washington (5-2, 4-2) 56, McNair (0-5, 0-5) 0
Miller Grove (2-3) 28, Salem (1-2) 6
Westminster (4-2, 2-2) 34, Redan (2-3, 0-3) 8
Lovett (5-2, 5-1) 51, Towers (1-3, 1-3) 6
Saturday, Oct. 31
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stone Mountain (1-3, 0-3) vs. Southwest DeKalb (2-2, 2-1), 7:30 pm
Monday, Nov. 2
Lovejoy (6-0) vs. Tucker (2-1, 1-0), 7:00 pm
OPEN: Cedar Grove (4-0), Cross Keys (1-2)