Cedar Grove’s Barry Jackson was on the move in a game earlier this year. He and his Saints look to move on in the state playoffs as they host White County at Godfrey Stadium at 7:30 pm. (Photo by Mark Brock)
DeKalb County has six teams qualified for the 2021 GHSA State Football Playoffs that begin on Friday and Saturday.
No. 5 ranked Cedar Grove and Southwest DeKalb earned host roles on Friday night.
The Saints (7-3) are looking to bounce back from a tough 40-35 loss to Region 5-3A foe Sandy Creek as they ended up with the No. 1 seed and the right to host White County (4-6), the Region 7-3A No. 4 seed on Friday night in a 7:30 kickoff at “Buck” Godfrey Stadium.
Cedar Grove’s only other two loses came to Class 7A Colquitt County and Lowndes County. The Saints are making their 12th consecutive appearance in the state playoffs. The run includes three state championships in the past five seasons and six consecutive trips to the Elite Eight.
Southwest DeKalb (6-4) hosts No. 9 ranked Blessed Trinity (6-4) at Hallford Stadium with kickoff set for 7:30 pm. The Panthers are making a sixth consecutive playoff appearance, the fifth under Head Coach Damian Wimes. The Panthers are looking for their first playoff win since 2017’s win over Banneker.
Three of the DeKalb teams go on the road on Friday. Columbia (7-3) travels to Elbert County (5-4) for a 7:30 pm game. The Eagles lost a 36-32 heartbreaker to South Atlanta last weekend to fall to the No. 3 seed in Region 6-2A. Columbia is making an appearance in the state playoffs for the first time since 2019 and are looking for their first playoff win since 1997.
Southwest DeKalb’s Akilis Smith (53) gets a tackle for a loss against Stone Mountain earlier this season. The Panthers play host to No. 9 ranked Blessed Trinity on Friday at Hallford Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30. (photo by Mark Brock)
Miller Grove (6-3) is the Region 6-4A No. 4 seed and travels to face Region 8 No. 1 seed and No. 5 ranked North Oconee on Friday at 7:30 pm. It is the Wolverines first playoff appearance since 2018 and they are looking for the programs first playoff victory.
The Lithonia Bulldogs (4-6) earned the Region 5-5A No. 4 seed with a 20-14 win over the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions last week to earn a trip to face No. 1 ranked Cartersville (9-0) at 7:30 pm. The Bulldogs won their last four games of the season to earn the playoff bid as they return after missing the playoffs in 2020. Lithonia last won a playoff game in 1994.
The Tucker Tigers (2-8) make their 15th consecutive playoff appearance on Saturday with a trip to face No. 4 ranked Brunswick (10-0) at 7:30 pm. Tucker is the No. 4 seed out of Region 4-6A and Brunswick is the No. 1 seed out of Region 2.
DEKALB FOOTBALL – PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 12
“BUCK” GODFREY STADIUM
CLASS 3A
White County (4-6) vs. Cedar Grove (7-3), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
CLASS 5A
Blessed Trinity (6-4), vs. SW DeKalb (6-4), 7:30 pm
AWAY GAMES
CLASS 2A
Columbia (7-3) at Elbert County (5-4), 7:30 pm
CLASS 4A
Miller Grove (6-3) at North Oconee (7-3), 7:30 pm
Class 5A
Lithonia (4-6) at Cartersville (9-0), 7:30 pm
Saturday, Nov. 13
CLASS 6A
Tucker (2-8) at Brunswick (10-0), 7:30 pm