Stephenson’s Rahim Diarrassouba (1) (left photo) hauls in a catch on the sideline against Lithonia and (right photo) Miller Grove’s Jayden Brown (1) cuts upfield against Lakeside. Stephenson and Miller Grove collide in a Region 6-4A game on Friday night at Hallford Stadium. (Photos by Mark Brock)
The Class 4A No. 7 ranked Stephenson Jaguars (5-0) are playing the Miller Grove Wolverines (4-1) to headline a four-game home schedule in DeKalb County this week.
Stephenson is 4-1 against the Wolverines in head-to-head play having won the last four consecutive allowing just 21 points (5.25 per game) including one shutout, and scoring 124 points (31 ppg). Miller Grove won the first meeting in a 32-29 shootout in 2012.
The Jaguars are 5-0 under first year head coach Marcus Jelks and face a familiar face in Miller Grove head coach Malcolm Brown who was a longtime assistant at Stephenson.
Stephenson is led on offense by running back Cheik Keita who has 513 yards and seven touchdowns on 80 carries this season. Freshman quarterback Marte Barton has thrown for 516 yards and four touchdowns. Barton’s main targets are Cordell Andrews (16 receptions, 210 yards, 1 TD) and Rahim Diarrassouba (10 receptions, 170 yards, 2 TDs).
Miller Grove’s offense is led by senior running back Jayden Brown (80 carries, 733 yards, 10 TDs) while quarterback Chancellor Allen had thrown for 434 yards and six touchdowns. Receiver Jayvonne Dillard leads the way in the receiving corps with 250 yards on 10 receptions and four touchdowns.
Linebackers senior Dezmond Buchanan (29 tackles) and junior Delali Flowers (24 tackles) lead a Jaguar defense allowing just 167 yards per game and 8.6 points. The Wolverines has allowed just 10.4 points per contest led by junior linebacker Cayman Spaulding (47 tackles, 12 sacks, 17 TFL) along with linebackers senior Travis Jones (29 tackles, 3 TFL) and junior Roddriqus Tracy (26 tackles, 6 TFL)
Cedar Grove Preseason All-State defensive lineman Christian Miller (52) sacks Redan’s Antoine Hector (5) in the Saints win last week. Miller and his Cedar Grove teammates travel to take on No. 7 ranked Lowndes on Friday. (Photo by Vincent Myers)
Cedar Grove vs. Lowndes
A battle of ranked teams happens on Friday night as the Class 3A No. 1 ranked Cedar Grove Saints travel to take on Class 7A No. 7 ranked Lowndes (4-2).
The Saints are led offensively by senior running back Rashod Dubinion (77 carries, 627 yards, 10 TDs, 125.4 ypg) and receivers Janiran Bonner (13 receptions, 216 yards, 2 TDs), Bernard Mack (18 receptions, 213 yards) and Trevon Ferrell (10 receptions, 158 yards, 3 TDs).
Lowndes is led offensively by senior dual threat quarterback Jacurri Brown (128-69-2, 916 yards, 13 TDs) who leads the team in rushing with 409 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior defensive lineman Adonijah Green leads the Saints on defense with 7.5 sacks and defensive back Kayin Lee (17 tackles) who has three interceptions, one of which was a pick-six. Lowndes is led by outside linebacker Elijah Colvin (29 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks) and defensive back Josh Picket (29 tackles, 3 TFL).
Columbia vs. McNair
The Columbia Eagles are sitting atop the Region 6-4A standings at 4-0 as they try to win their sixth game of the season with a region game with the McNair Mustangs (0-5, 0-4) in a 7:00 pm game at Avondale Stadium on Thursday night.
The Eagles (5-1) last won six games in 2014 (7-4) while McNair is trying to end a 20-game losing streak dating back to the last game of 2018 (an 18-13 win over Therrell).
Columbia’s offense is led by running backs Royce Tolbert (49 carries, 454 yards, 6 TDs) and Roland Edwin (54 carries, 429 yards, 3 TDs). Quarterback Elijah Morgan is coming of a 239 yard passing, 2 touchdown performance against Washington. Jadan Baugh (9 receptions, 227 yards, 2 TDs) leads the receiving corps in just two games of action this season coming off an injury.
The passing combo of quarterback Jeremy Victor (149 yards passing, 1 TD) and receiver Malachi Jackson (121 yards, 1 TD) lead the Mustangs offense.
Jackson also leads the Mustang defense with 28 tackles and two interceptions on the season. Senior defensive end Marquez Harris (49 tackles, 14 sacks, 18 TFL) and junior linebacker Kadarius Bailey (47 tackles, 1 sack, 5 TFL) lead the Eagles through the first five games.
The other homes include Arabia Mountain (3-3) hosting Mays (1-4) in an 8:00 pm kickoff at Godfrey Stadium in a key Region 6-4A contest and a Region 5-5A meeting with Southwest DeKalb (2-4) hosting Martin Luther King Jr. (1-4) on Saturday at Hallford Stadium with a 7:30 pm kickoff.
DCSD FOOTBALL – WEEK 8 SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 7
AVONDALE STADIUM
McNair (0-5) vs. Columbia (5-1), 7:00 pm, Avondale
AWAY GAME
Towers (2-3) vs. South Atlanta (4-0), 7:00 pm, Lakewood
Friday, Oct. 8
GODFREY STADIUM
Mays (1-4) vs. Arabia Mountain (3-3), 8:00 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stephenson (5-0) vs. Miller Grove (4-1), 7:30 PM (HC)
AWAY GAMES
Cedar Grove (4-1) vs. Lowndes (4-2), 8:00 pm
Clarkston (1-1) at Fellowship Christian (), 7:30 pm
Druid Hills (0-6) at East Forsyth (1-5), 7:30 pm
Lithonia (0-5) at St. Pius (4-2), 7:30 pm
Stone Mountain (4-2) at Northview (1-4), 7:30 pm
Tucker (1-4) at Lovejoy (3-1), 7:30 pm, Twelve Oaks
Saturday, Oct. 11
HALLFORD STADIUM
M.L. King (1-4) vs. SW DeKalb (2-4), 7:30 pm (HC)
Open: Chamblee (5-1), Cross Keys (0-5), Dunwoody (1-5), Lakeside (2-4), Redan (2-4)