Arabia Mountain tight end Daniel Ndukwe (17) celebrates a big touchdown catch he took away from Lithonia’s Alex Chapell (28) in first half action of the Rams’ 42-16 win over the Bulldogs. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Quarterback Julian Shanks passed for 263 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another score as the Arabia Mountain Rams picked up a 42-16 Region 4-5A victory over the Lithonia Bulldogs at Hallford Stadium on Thursday night.
Shanks got it done with his legs first following a fumble recovery by teammate Sekou Copeland that stopped Lithonia’s game-opening drive in Arabia Mountain territory. He reeled off a 22-yard scamper and then on third and goal at the Lithonia seven-yard line he scrambled around the left end into the end zone with 7:05 left in the first quarter. Tyler Teague tacked on the PAT to make it 7-0.
The two teams went into the second quarter with the game still 7-0 when Shanks dropped back and through to the left front corner of the end zone where tight end Daniel Ndukwe reached out with one hand and took the ball away from the defender for the touchdown with 9:33 left in the first half. Teague tacked on the PAT to make it 14-0.
Shanks provided the Rams (3-3) with two more touchdowns as he threw for two in the final 1:38 of the game. He first connected in the right flat with Jaiden Figaro who turned up field, broke a couple of tackles and raced down the right sideline 52 yards for the touchdown. Teague was again good on the PAT to make it 21-0.
The Rams recovered a fumble at the Lithonia 41 when Daniel Turpin and Cedric Sellers sacked Lithonia quarterback Amonte Hardin of the football and recovered to give the Rams the ball back with 51 seconds left.
Lithonia defensive lineman Dennis McKinzie (58) knocks the football loose as he sacks Arabia Mountain quarterback Julian Shanks (11). (Photo by Mark Brock)
Three plays later Shanks threw left to Ndukwe who broke a tackle and weaved his way through the defenders on the way to a 42-yard touchdown play. Teague made it 28-0 at the half in favor of the Rams.
In the first six minutes of the second half Shanks would throw touchdown passes of 65 yards to Alex Richard and 68 yards to Laron Jones. Teague hit both PATs to make it a 42-0 game with 6:11 left in the third quarter.
The score was still 42-0 when Hardin looked down the field and found a wide-open Anthony Booker at the goal line to put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard. Hardin added the two-point conversion as he stuck the ball over the plan as he met some big defenders head on to make it a 42-8 game.
Lithonia recovered an onside kick following the touchdown and Hardin made the Rams pay hitting Isaiah Byrd on a 19-yard touchdown pass and ran in the two-point conversion for the second time to cut the lead to 42-16.
Arabia Mountain piled up 388 yards of offense with most of it coming off the arm of Julian Shanks who hit on 14 of eight passes for 263 yards and five TDs. Lithonia’s Amonte Hardin was 13 of 27 for 143 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs (0-6).
Daniel Ndukwe finished with two receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Isaiah Byrd finished with four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs.
Miller Grove 26, SW DeKalb 21
Quarterback Christian Jamison ran in for a touchdown with 21 seconds to play to propel the Miller Grove Wolverines to a 26-21 victory over the Southwest DeKalb Panthers at Godfrey Stadium on Thursday night.
Southwest DeKalb (2-4, 0-1) had scored to take a 21-20 lead with 1:41 to play leaving the Wolverines (3-3, 1-0) enough time to march down the field for the win.
Miller Grove led 14-6 at the half before Southwest DeKalb knotted the game at 14-14. The Wolverines regained a 20-14 lead on a Ta’Jon Corbitt touchdown run, his second of the game. The victory was just the third in 15 tries for Miller Grove against the Panthers.
Stephenson 13, Hapeville 12
The Stephenson Jaguars opened Region 6-4A play with a come-from-behind 13-12 win over the Hapeville Hornets on Thursday night at Adams Stadium.
Devin Ingram had another big night for the Jaguars (3-2, 1-0) as he scored both touchdowns, including the go-ahead run to the end zone with two minutes left in the third quarter. Hapeville had led 12-7 at the half.
Lakeside 40, Johnson-Gainesville 14
Luke Chilton and Kyle Davis both scored two rushing touchdowns to pace the Lakeside Vikings to a 40-14 victory over Johnson-Gainesville on Thursday night at Adams Stadium.
The pair helped the Vikings jump out to a 24-0 lead as the team improved to 4-2 on the season. It is the first four win season for the Vikings since finishing 5-5 in 2016.
Chilton finished the night with 11 carries for 108 yards and the two touchdowns while Davis ran for 93 yards on nine carries and his two touchdowns. Jean-Luc Noison added a touchdown and Jay Hanson was 5-5 on PATS with a 30-yard field goal.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 7
Thursday, Sept. 29
ADAMS STADIUM
Lakeside (4-2) 40, Johnson-Gainesville (0-6) 14
Stephenson (3-2)* 13, Hapeville Charter (0-6) 12
AVONDALE STADIUM
Redan (2-4)* 25, Towers (0-4-1) 14
Callaway (3-3) 32, Columbia (4-2)* 12
GODFREY STADIUM
Landmark Christian (3-3) 24, McNair (2-4)* 6
Miller Grove (3-3) 26, SW DeKalb (2-4)* 21
HALLFORD STADIUM
Arabia Mountain (3-3) 42, Lithonia (0-6)* 16
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Chamblee (4-1)* 45, M.L. King (1-5) 7
AWAY GAMES
Marist (4-2)* 42, Dunwoody (4-2) 3
Druid Hills (2-3) 39, Riverside Military (0-6) 6
Decatur (2-4)* 53, Tucker (2-4) 28
Saturday, Oct. 1
Cedar Grove (3-2) vs. St. John’s (Washington, DC, 4-1) , 2:00 pm
OPEN: Clarkston (1-4), Cross Keys (0-5), Stone Mountain (1-4)