Stephenson’s Jayden Johnson (7) gets the Jaguars on the board early in the first quarter of their 40-0 win over Champion with this five yard run between the blocks of Kaiden Gooden (21) and Ja’Mare Tolliver (11). (Photo by Mark Brock)
Stephenson, Lithonia, Chapel Hill and Tucker all advanced to the Trail to the Title middle school football semifinals with victories in four first round games played at Avondale Stadium this past Saturday.
Undefeated Stephenson (7-0) rolled to a 40-0 win over the Champion Chargers (3-4) as the Jaguars used special teams and defense to score. Stephenson’s Ja’Mare Tolliver blocked a punt on Champion’s opening possession of the game and Sheldon Evegan returned it to the Chargers’ five-yard line to set up the opening score of the game.
It took just one play as Jayden Johnson took the ball into the end zone on a five-yard run with 6:26 to play in the first quarter. Ja’Mare Tolliver ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
The defense stepped up on the next Chargers possession as Jordan Christie stepped in front of a pass and turned it into a 25-yard pick six for the Jaguars. Tolliver again ran in the two-point conversion to make it 16-0 with 3:36 to play in the first quarter.
Special teams stepped on the kickoff for Stephenson recovering a short kick at the Champion 43. It took just one play as quarterback Gavin Kinchen threw down the left sideline to Christie who hauled it for a 43-yard scoring play. Tolliver got his third two-point conversion of the first quarter to make it a 24-0 advantage for Stephenson with 3:10 remaining in the period.
Another special teams play on the ensuing kickoff turned into another Jaguar touchdown as Terrance Woodfin stripped the Champion kick returner of the football and Rontre Welch has a 40-yard scoop-and-score with 2:55 left in the first quarter. Tolliver ran in his fourth two-point conversion to make it 32-0 at the half.
Stephenson closed out the scoring on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kinchen to Welch as the third quarter ended. Kinchen hit Christie on the two-point conversion pass to make the final of 40-0.
The Jaguars advanced to the semifinal round for the 12th time and for the second consecutive year with the win. Jayden Johnson had five carries for 42 yards and a touchdown and Gavin Kinchen threw for 73 yards and two touchdowns and added 47 yards on the ground on two carries.
Champion’s Alexis Chambliss had 11 carries for 19 yards for the Chargers. Stephenson moves on to face Lithonia (6-1), a 14-8 winner over previously undefeated Cedar Grove, at 10:00 am on Saturday at Godfrey Stadium.
Lithonia quarterback Armani Myco (2) dives into the end zone for a touchdown to give Lithonia an early 6-0 lead in the Bulldogs’ 14-8 win over the previously undefeated Cedar Grove Saints. (Photo by Mark Brock)
GAME 2: Lithonia 14, Cedar Grove 8
The Lithonia Bulldogs defense stopped the Cedar Grove Saints on a first goal at the Bulldogs one-yard line as time expired to preserve a 14-8 victory in the second game at Avondale Stadium.
Cedar Grove (6-1) had driven from its own 46 after falling behind 14-8. The Saints Kaeden Drake had a 19-yard touchdown called back on a block in the back as time was running out.
Facing a fourth and one at the Lithonia five-yard line, King Parrom took the handoff around the left side and dove for the pylon but was ruled down at the one giving the Saints a first down with 4.1 seconds to play. The chains were set, and Cedar Grove just got the snap off to Parrom before time ran out. Parrom drove forward into the line only to have the Bulldog front stuff him short of the goal line as time ran out.
Lithonia (6-1) scored with 3:22 to play as quarterback Armani Myco was stripped of the football at the one-yard line, but alert teammate Jamarius Milliner scooped up the ball in the end zone for the touchdown. Myco passed to Demetrius Hardy for the two-point conversion to make it 14-8.
The Bulldogs has stopped Cedar Grove on a fourth and 31 on the Saints 44 as they forced an incomplete pass
Lithonia opened the scoring in the first quarter after the Saints failed on a fourth downplay at their own 20-yard line setting the Bulldogs up in great field position.
After a holding call nullified a Bulldog touchdown, Myco ran the ball in from 12-yards out with 1:45 left in the opening period to give Lithonia the 6-0 lead. A two-point conversion was no good.
Cedar Grove answered right back as Marquise Cohen returned the kickoff 27 yards to the Lithonia 48 to give Bulldogs good field position. Kaylin Williams had a 17-yard run in the drive and capped it off with a 16-yard punishing run up the middle for the touchdown with 5:40 left in the first half. Parrom ran in the two-point conversion to put Cedar Grove up 8-6 at the half.
Myco finished the day with 103 yards passing and a rushing touchdown to lead the Bulldogs. Williams carried the ball 11 times for 81 yards and a touchdown to lead the Saints.
Chapel Hill’s TyShawn Kirkwood (5) makes a move up the field during his team’s 42-0 win over the Chamblee Bulldogs. Kirkwood scored two touchdowns (1 rushing, 1 receiving) in the win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
GAME 3: Chapel Hill 42, Chamblee 0
The Chapel Hill Panthers scored 30 first half points on the way to a 42-0 first round victory over the Chamblee Bulldogs in the third game of the day at Avondale Stadium.
TyShawn Kirkwood’s 30-yard punt return off Chamblee’s opening possession of the game set up the Panthers (6-1) first score of the game. Aden Charlton scored on a one yard run with 3:15 left in the first quarter and the Panthers were off and running. The two-point try was no good for a 6-0 lead.
Robert Alexander extended the lead with his 30-yard pick six on Chamblee’s next possession. Braylon Carter ran in the two-point conversion to make it 14-0 with 1:12 left in the opening period.
Chapel Hill recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and four plays later Trevium House ran it in from four yards out. Carter threw to Kingston Lobdell for the two-point conversion to make it 22-0 with 7:07 left in the first half.
The Panthers forced a turnover on downs at their own 34 to stop a Chamblee drive late in the second quarter. A 29-yard pass play from Carter to Alexander got the Panthers moving. Kirkwood had runs of 12 yards and 17 yards as the Panthers overcame a holding penalty to move the ball to the Chamblee four-yard line. Kirkwood finished off the drive going to the final four yards for the touchdown with 11 seconds remaining in the half. Alexander converted for the two-points to make it 30-0 at the half.
Carter and Kirkwood hooked up for a 41-yard touchdown pass play on the opening drive of the second half as Chapel Hill increased its lead to 36-0. The try for two was no good.
Kenneth Otega recovered a fumble at the Chamblee three-yard line with 3:45 to play to set up the final score of the game. Jamarion Davis ran the ball into the end zone for the touchdown to make it 42-0.
Kirkwood finished with 63 yards rushing and a touchdown to go with his 41-yard touchdown reception to lead the Panthers offense.
Chapel Hill advances to the 12:00 pm semifinal against the Tucker Tigers (7-0) on Saturday at Godfrey Stadium.
Tucker’s Christian Copeland (5) fends off a tackle by Bethune’s Tylar Wooten (4) on a first quarter run during Tucker’s 26-6 semifinal win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
GAME 4: Tucker 26, Bethune 6
Tucker’s Nehemiah Johnson opened the game with a 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as the undefeated Tigers knocked off Bethune 26-6 in the fourth game at Avondale Stadium to advance to the Trail to the Title semifinals on Saturday.
The score would remain 6-0 until the second quarter when a short punt by the Lions (3-3-1) set the Tigers (7-0) up at the Bethune 29. Following a penalty the Tigers went to the air as Jace German threw to Joziah Horne for a 35-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 12-0 with 5:50 to go in the first half.
Bethune was threatening late in the half following an interception by the Lions’ Chaz Watson that gave Bethune the ball at the Tucker 23. The Tiger defense held tough and forced the Lions to turn the ball over on downs at the 29.
L’Markus Scott had the Lions threatening again at the Tucker 14 following his 30-yard punt return. Tucker forced the Lions into a fourth and 11 at the 15 when Horner intercepted a Bethune pass at the two-yard line and returned it out to the Tiger 40.
German got the drive rolling as he got away for 22 yards on a third and 16 to the Bethune 44. Three plays later Christian Ema got loose for a 34-yard touchdown run to make it 18-0 with 6:15 to play. The two-point conversion failed.
The Tigers forced a three and out by the Lions and German struck for a 40-yard run down to the Bethune eight-yard line. Tajuan Kirk went the final eight yards for the score with 18 seconds to play. German found Tizazu Jekamo on the pass for the two-point conversion to up the lead to 26-0.
Bethune’s Lorenzo Venson took the Tucker kickoff 80 yards to the house to end the game for the final of 26-6.
The Tigers outgained the Lions 178 to 48 in total offense led by German who rushed for 62 yards on six carries and a touchdown pass of 35 yards to Joziah Horne.
Tucker takes on Chapel Hill at 12:00 pm in the second semifinal game set for Godfrey Stadium on Saturday.
TRAIL TO THE TITLE MS FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Saturday, October 22
First Round of Playoffs – Avondale Stadium
Stephenson (7-0) 40, Champion (3-4) 0
Lithonia (6-1) 14, Cedar Grove (6-1) 8
Chapel Hill (6-1) 42, Chamblee (3-4) 0
Tucker (7-0) 26, Bethune (3-3-1) 6
TRAIL TO THE TITLE MS FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Saturday, October 22
Playoff Semifinals – Godfrey Stadium
Stephenson (7-0) vs. Lithonia (6-1), 10:30 am
Tucker (7-0) vs. Chapel Hill (6-1), 12:00 pm