The Arabia Mountain Rams came off a long layoff to bounce Rockdale County 40-26 after jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter on Thursday night in a non-region high school football game at Buck Godfrey Stadium.

Brandon Adams raced 41 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game to put the Rams (3-4) up quickly. Andre Teague’s PAT made it 7-0 with 11:15 remaining in the first quarter.

The Rams defense held Rockdale (0-5) on its first possession to force a punt. Two plays later Adams tossed a screen pass to the left side to Damion Fitzpatrick who sped past the Bulldog defenders for a 60-yard scoring play. Teague was again good on the PAT to make 14-0 with 8:24 left in the first period of play.

Xavier Wallace made it a three score game as he ran in for a six-yard touchdown with 5:41 to go in opening frame. Teague was true on the PAT once again to make it 21-0 Wallace set up his touchdown run with a 22-yard scamper that put the Rams in the RedZone at the 18.

Wallace would set up the final score of the first half with a seven yard run that drew a personal foul on Rockdale to move the ball to the Bulldogs’ 26. Four plays later Teague kicked a 34-yard field goal to send the Rams to the half up 24-0.

Rockdale got the ball to start the half, but after a chop block call and an illegal procedure to go with two runs for a loss found themselves in third down and 31 at their own eight-yard line. A bad snap on the third down play went through the end zone for a safety to make it 26-0 Arabia Mountain with 9:48 to play in the third quarter.

Arabia Mountain’s Amir Gilbert set up the next Rams’ score by returning the free kick 69 yards to the Rockdale six-yard line. The Rams capitalized on the first play as Adams found Stanley Pritchett III at the three yard line on a quick pass. Pritchett carried two tacklers to the corner of the end zone for the score. Teague made it 33-0 with the PAT.

Facing a second and 17 from the Rams’ 47, Darryl McGuire dropped back and found Harold Lowe streaking down the seam for a 47-yard touchdown pass play with just 5.9 seconds left on the third quarter clock. The PAT was good to close the gap to 33-7.

Arabia Mountain fumbled the ball back to Rockdale on the first play of the fourth quarter to set up another Bulldogs’ score. McGuire and Lowe hooked up again, this time for 13 yards on the touchdown pass into the right corner of the end zone. The lead was down to 33-14 for the Rams.

Another bad snap exchange by the Rams gave Harrison Kinsler the opportunity to scoop up the loose football and race 20 yards for the touchdown with 9:26 to play as the lead dwindled to 33-20.

The Rams answered with a seven-play, 73-yard drive as Jaiden Figaro capped off the drive with a hard 17-yard run which involved him breaking several tackles over the final eight yards of the run to the end zone. Teague was good on the PAT to extend the lead to 40-20.

Rockdale would put a final touchdown on the board as Hardge scored on a three-yard run on fourth and goal at the Arabia Mountain three-yard line with 28.9 seconds to play.

In other scores on Thursday night, Greater Atlanta Christian (9-0, 5-0) defeated Redan (3-3, 1-3) 42-8 at Avondale Stadium and Washington (7-2, 5-2) knocked off Towers (1-6, 1-6) 45-0 at Lakewood.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 8
Thursday, Nov. 19
AVONDALE STADIUM
GAC (9-0, 6-0) 42, Redan (3-3, 1-3) 8

GODFREY STADIUM
Arabia Mountain (3-4) 40, Rockdale Co. (0-5) 26

HALLFORD STADIUM
Lithonia (3-4, 2-3) vs. M.L. King (2-5, 2-3), 7:00 pm (CANC.)

AWAY GAMES
Washington (7-2, 5-2) 45, Towers (1-6, 1-6) 0.

Friday, Nov. 20
ADAMS STADIUM
Westlake (8-1, 4-0) vs. Tucker (3-3, 2-2), 7:30 pm

AVONDALE STADIUM
Hapeville (4-3, 4-1) vs. Miller Grove (3-4, 2-3), 7:30 pm

GODFREY STADIUM
Sandy Creek (2-4, 1-2) vs. Cedar Grove (1-4, 1-3), 7:30 pm (CANC.)

NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Lakeside (0-7) vs. Stone Mountain (1-6), 7:30 pm

AWAY GAMES
Chamblee (5-1) vs. Berkmar (1-8, 0-6), 7:30 pm (CANC.)
Dunwoody (1-6, 1-4) at Duluth (5-4, 2-3), 7:30 pm
Southwest DeKalb (3-3, 3-2) at Northview (2-6, 1-4), 7:30 pm
Columbia (3-3, 2-3) vs. South Atlanta (6-3, 6-0), 5:30 pm (Lakewood)