The two winningest football programs in DeKalb County Schools meet on Friday night as the Tucker Tigers travel to Godfrey Stadium for a 7:30 pm kickoff against the Southwest DeKalb Panthers.

Both programs are in their 74th season (1949-2022) with Tucker leading the district with a 558-243-15 record and Southwest DeKalb at 527-273-14. The pair also lead the district in playoff wins with Tucker at 54-41 and Southwest DeKalb next at 48-39. Both programs have two state championships Tucker in 2008 and 2011 (both Class 4A) and Southwest DeKalb in 1972 (2A) and 1995 (4A).

Tucker (1-0) enters the 23rd meeting of the rivalry owning a 14-7-1 record overall, but Southwest DeKalb (0-1) broke a five-game skid in 2021 with a 34-9 victory over the Tigers. The two teams first met on the field in 1966 with the Panthers winning 13-9, but Tucker went on to win the next six meetings.

The Tigers under first year head coach Lonnie Jones are coming off a 45-14 win over the Miller Grove Wolverines last Friday night. Junior running back Jordan McCoy rushed for 281 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries to lead a Tiger rushing attack that accounted for over 300 yards on the night. Ethan Sanders added 114 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries for the Tigers. Tucker held the Wolverines to just 16 yards rushing on 31 carries but gave up 200 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Southwest DeKalb looks to rebound from a 13-0 season opening loss at Stockbridge last Saturday night. The Panther defense did an outstanding job holding the Tigers to 230 yards of total offense (200 yards rushing and 2 TDs). The offense could not find the end zone.

OTHER GAMES OF NOTE
In other action, four DeKalb teams play their season openers this weekend. Druid Hills, Clarkston, Chamblee and Cross Keys are all working towards getting their first win to kick start their seasons.

Druid Hills (0-0) opens against McNair (0-1), a 23-12 loser to Northview last Friday, in a 7:00 pm game on Thursday at Godfrey Stadium. It is the first meeting between the two DeKalb schools since a 34-0 McNair win in 2009. McNair leads the series 7-2.

The Clarkston Angoras (0-0) play host to the Berkmar Patriots (0-1) in another Thursday night game. Berkmar fell 20-6 at home to Lakeside (DeKalb) last Friday.

Chamblee opens its season on Friday as the Bulldogs host the Towers Titans (0-1), 15-0 losers to Rutland last Thursday, in a 7:30 pm game on Friday night at North DeKalb Stadium. The two teams have played 14 times with Chamblee holding an 8-6 edge. The teams last met in an 8-7 victory in 2001 by the Bulldogs.

The Cross Keys Indians travel to Henry County to take on Community Christian (0-0) in both teams’ season openers. The Indians hope to break an eight-game losing skid dating back to the 2020 season. Community Christian was 0-10 a year ago and has an 11-game losing streak.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 2
Thursday, Aug. 25
AVONDALE STADIUM
Redan (0-1) vs. Stone Mountain (0-0), 7:00 pm

GODFREY STADIUM
Druid Hills (0-0) vs. McNair (0-1), 7:00 pm

HALLFORD STADIUM
Berkmar (0-1) vs. Clarkston (0-0), 7:00 pm

AWAY GAME
Miller Grove (0-1) at Maynard Jackson (1-0), 7:00 pm, Lakewood

Friday, Aug. 26
ADAMS STADIUM
Northview (1-0) vs. Lakeside (1-0), 7:30 pm

AVONDALE STADIUM
Woodland-Stockbridge (1-0) vs. Columbia (1-0), 7:30 pm

GODFREY STADIUM
Tucker (1-0) vs. SW DeKalb (0-1), 7:30 pm

NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Towers (0-1) vs. Chamblee (0-0), 7:30 pm

AWAY GAMES
Cross Keys (0-0) at Community Christian (0-0), 7:30 pm
Arabia Mountain (0-1) at Heritage (1-0), 7:30 pm
Lithonia (0-1) at Rome (1-0), 7:30 pm
M.L. King (0-1) at Winder-Barrow (1-0), 7:30 pm

Saturday, Aug. 27
Miami Edison (0-1) vs. Cedar Grove (1-0), 7:00 pm (CANCELLED)

OPEN: Dunwoody (1-0), Stephenson (0-1)