Thursday Night Lights returns to DeKalb this week to kick-off a slate of eight home games in DeKalb Stadiums during Week 9 of the high school football season.

The Tucker Tigers (1-6, 1-1) get the Week 9 DeKalb football schedule off to an early start by hosting the Morrow Mustangs (1-6, 0-2) with a state playoff berth on the line in a 7:00 pm game at Adams Stadium on Thursday.

A win would all but clinch the No. 4 seed out of Region 4-6A behind Langston Hughes, Lovejoy and Westlake.

A pair of doubleheaders are set at Adams and Avondale Stadiums on Friday night. Avondale is hosting some key region matchups beginning at 5:15 as Miller Grove (5-1, 1-1) hosts Region 4-4A leader Mays (3-4, 3-0) with the opportunity to climb into contention for a home playoff spot.

The Wolverines are coming off a bye-week following their big upset of Stephenson two weeks ago while Mays is coming off a 28-14 win over Stephenson this past weekend.

Playoff implications revolve around the second game at Avondale as Lithonia (1-6, 1-3) can control its own destiny over the final three weeks of the regular season coming off a big 70-13 win over Northview last week and takes on Stone Mountain (4-4, 0-4) at 8:00 pm.

Adams Stadium hosts a pair of non-region games with Cross Keys (0-5) hosting Notre Dame Academy (1-5) at 5:15 pm and Lakeside (2-5) looks to pick win No. 3 on the season on senior night against Washington (3-3) at 8:00 pm.

Arabia Mountain (3-5, 1-3) hosts Hapeville Charter (2-5, 0-2) in a Region 6-4A clash. The Rams need two wins to close out the season at 5-5.

The Stephenson Jaguars (5-2, 1-2) look to stop a two-game skid as they host the Top 5 ranked Marist War Eagles (5-1, 2-0) at 8:00 pm at Hallford Stadium.

Dunwoody (1-6, 0-3) is hosting Berkmar (0-7, 0-4) for Homecoming on Friday at North DeKalb Stadium with kickoff set for 8:00 pm. The Wildcats are looking to pick up their first Region 7-7A win of the season.

Two key road games are set in Region 6-2A as Columbia and Towers go on the road. Columbia (7-1, 6-0) heads to Lovett (5-3, 4-2) with region championship hopes on the line. A win over Lovett could set up a showdown with South Atlanta for the 6-2A crown in two weeks.

Towers (2-5, 2-3) goes on the road to the Riverview Complex to face Pace Academy (3-4, 3-2) with its playoff hopes on the line. A win over Pace would move the Titans closer to a state playoff bid while a loss would all but eliminate them.

The No. 1 ranked Cedar Grove Saints (5-2, 4-0) head to Westminster (3-4, 1-3) with the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with two weeks to go and possibly set up a battle with Top 5 ranked Sandy Creek with the region title on the line.

Other away games on Friday include M.L. King (1-6) on the road in Region 5-5A to face St. Pius X (5-2) at 7:30 and Redan (2-5) heading to Lakewood Stadium to face Douglass (0-7) in Region 5-3A.

Two road games are set for Saturday night as McNair (0-6) travels to Lakewood Stadium to face South Atlanta (6-1) in Region 6-2A at 5:00 pm and Chamblee (6-1) going to Henderson Stadium to meet Maynard Jackson (2-5) at 6:00 pm.

DCSD FOOTBALL – WEEK 9 SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 21
ADAMS STADIUM
Morrow (1-6) vs. Tucker* (1-6), 7:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 22
ADAMS STADIUM
Notre Dame (1-5) vs. Cross Keys (0-5), 5:15 pm
Washington (3-3) vs. Lakeside (2-5), 8:00 pm (SN)

AVONDALE STADIUM
Mays (3-4) vs. Miller Grove* (5-1), 5:15 pm
Stone Mountain (4-4) vs. Lithonia* (1-6), 8:00 pm

“BUCK” GODFEY STADIUM
Hapeville Charter (2-5) vs. Arabia Mountain* (3-5), 7:30 pm

HALLFORD STADIUM
Marist (5-1) vs. Stephenson* (5-2), 8:00 pm

NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Berkmar (0-7) vs. Dunwoody* (1-6), 8:00 pm (HC)

AWAY GAMES
Cedar Grove (5-2) vs. Westminster (3-4), 7:30 pm
Columbia (7-1) at Lovett* (5-3), 7:30 pm
M.L. King (1-6) at St. Pius X* (5-2), 7:30 pm
Redan (2-5) vs. Douglass (0-7), 8:00 pm, Lakewood Stadium
Towers (2-5) vs. Pace Academy* (3-4), 7:30 pm, Riverview

Saturday, Oct. 23
AWAY GAMES
McNair (0-6) vs. South Atlanta* (6-1), 5:00 pm, Lakewood, Stadium
Chamblee (6-1) vs. Maynard Jackson (2-5), 6:00 pm, Henderson Stadium

Open: Clarkston (2-2), Druid Hills (0-9), SW DeKalb (4-4)
*–Region Game
(HC)—Homecoming
(SN)—Senior Night