A Tucker Tiger team missing seven starters played the Top 10 ranked Westlake Lions tough before the big play Lions offense struck to pull away in the second half to a 42-7 victory at Adams Stadium on Friday.

Tucker (3-4, 2-3) struck first in the game as backup quarterback Bryce Bowens scored on a four-yard run around the left end with 5:58 to play in the first quarter. Camden Russell hit the PAT for the 7-0 lead. The big play on the drive was a Bowens’ 29-yard pass to Keeman Hayes Jr. on third and 14.

A horse collar call on the Tiger defense helped the Lions overcome a first and 20 situation in an 80-yard drive to answer the Tigers’ score. Tucker again forced the Lions into another big deficit behind the chains. Facing second and 23 from the Tiger 26 Zina Mulbah got loose around the right end and wound his way into the end zone to help Westlake tie the score 7-7 with 28 seconds left in the first quarter.

Tucker looked to be answering the Westlake score after faking a punt as Kaece Supples took the snap and rambled 20 yards for the first down at the Lions’ 17. Facing fourth and six the Tigers went for a field goal that went wide right.

A fumble recovery gave Tucker the ball back at the Westslake 47, but the Tigers were forced to punt. Cooper West hit a perfect coffin corner punt pinning the Lions at their own five-yard line.

Two plays later RJ Johnson (16 of 22 passing for 275 yards and 2 TDs) dropped back and with time found Leo Blackburn down the right side for an 87-yard pass play for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:27 to play in the first half. The Lions took the 14-7 lead into the half.

Westlake stopped Tucker’s opening drive of the second half and quickly marched down the field for a touchdown with Mulbah striking again for a 36-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 21-7 with 6:50 left in the period.

Tucker drove back down the field with Bowens connected with Hayes on a screen pass for 33 yards, but a fourth and five pass at the Westlake seven-yard line went incomplete to thwart the scoring threat.

Johnson and Blackburn hooked up again four plays later for a 75-yard touchdown pass play as the lead great to 28-7 with 1:07 left in the third.

Westlake added two more scores in the fourth quarter for the final of 42-7.

Stone Mountain 52, Lakeside 12
Stone Mountain senior quarterback Shaheim Bailey went out on a high note on Friday night leading the Pirates to a 52-12 victory over the Lakeside Vikings at North DeKalb Stadium.

Bailey, the only DeKalb County quarterback to pass for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 2,000, added to those totals in his final high school game as he threw for five touchdowns (33 for his career) and ran for another (30 career rushing TDs) in the win One of his touchdown passes was a 55-yard to Amir Jones.

Stone Mountain finished the season 2-6 while the Vikings fell to 0-7.

SW DeKalb 48, Northview 7
Big scoring plays from Josh Taylor and Tajun Corbitt propelled the Southwest DeKalb Panthers into the playoffs with a 48-7 victory over Northview on the road on Friday night.

Josh Taylor had touchdown runs of 70 and 40 yards while Corbitt added a 50-yard jaunt for another in the convincing road win. Southwest DeKalb improved to 4-3 on the season and 4-2 in Region 5-5A action. The Panthers will be the No. 3 seed heading into the state playoffs.

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 (9-1, 5-0) 42, Tucker (3-4, 2-3) 7

AVONDALE STADIUM
Hapeville (5-3, 5-1) 25, Miller Grove (3-5, 2-4) 6

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

NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Stone Mountain (2-6) 52, Lakeside (0-8) 12

AWAY GAMES
Chamblee (5-1) vs. Berkmar (1-8, 0-6), 7:30 pm (CANC.)
Duluth (6-4, 3-3) 33, Dunwoody (1-6, 1-4) 3
Southwest DeKalb (4-3, 4-2) 48, Northview (2-7, 1-5) 7
South Atlanta (7-3, 7-0) 12, Columbia (3-4, 2-4) 0

GHSA STATE PLAYOFFS
Friday, Nov. 27
Class 6A
Tucker (3-4) at Lee County (8-1), 7:30 pm

Class 5A
Southwest DeKalb (4-3) at Eastside (8-2), 7:30 pm
M.L. King (3-5) at Clarke Central (7-2), 7:30 pm

Class 4A
Stephenson (4-2) at Northwest Whitfield (8-2), 7:30 pm
Arabia Mountain (3-4) at Cedartown (7-2), 7:30 pm

Class 3A
Cedar Grove (2-4) at Monroe Area (7-2), 7:30 pm