Dunwoody receiver Danny Boden (5) tries to get past Towers defender Amari Morgan during scrimmage action last week. Both teams open the regular season at home this week. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The 2023 DeKalb County Schools high school football season kickoffs on Thursday with three teams in action to get things rolling as 15 more teams hit the field on Friday in the opening week of Georgia high school football.
Lakeside opens by hosting Berkmar in a 7:00 pm game on Thursday at Adams Stadium as the Vikings and Coach Morris Starr look to continue building on their first winning season (8-2) since 2003. The two teams opened the 2022 season at Berkmar with the Vikings starting a three-game win streak to open the season with a 20-6 victory over the Patriots.
Coach Frederick Green’s Druid Hills Red Devils finished 4-6 a year ago after winning three of their last six games and are vying to get over that .500 mark in 2023. The first step is taking on KIPP Atlanta Collegiate in a 7:00 pm game at Avondale Stadium on Thursday. KIPP went 1-8 a year ago.
The Towers Titans and first-year head coach Henry Garrett take on Rutland (Macon) in a 7:00 pm season opener at Godfrey Stadium on Thursday. Towers is looking to bounce back from a tough 0-9-1 season a year ago. Rutland won 15-0 in the opener last fall and it was one of five shutouts for the Titans.
Thirteen DeKalb teams open the season on Friday with five games set for DeKalb stadiums all starting at 7:30 pm.
A pair of DeKalb teams take the field at Adams Stadium as the Tucker Tigers entertain the Miller Grove Wolverines. Tucker won the matchup 45-14 behind 281 yards and four touchdowns by returning running back Jordan McCoy. Miller Grove is looking to break a 0-9 streak against the Tigers.
The McNair Mustangs host Northview at Avondale Stadium in the season opener. Northview won a 23-12 decision at home last year despite the Mustangs holding the Titans scoreless in the second half.
Stephenson’s Devin Ingram (with ball) tries to get away from Cedar Grove’s Chase Kerns (51) during preseason scrimmage action. Both teams take on non-DeKalb opponents on Saturday at Morehouse College. (Photo by Mark Brock)
First-year Southwest DeKalb head coach Marion Bell leads his Panthers against South Atlanta at Godfrey Stadium as he tries to get the Panthers back on track after a 2-8 finish last season in which they lost five games by six or fewer points. The two teams play for just the third time and the first since back-to-back wins by the Panthers in 2005 and 2006.
Alcovy travels to Hallford Stadium to take on Lithonia for the second consecutive season. Lithonia fell 37-6 in the opener for the two teams last fall.
Dunwoody welcomes North Springs to North DeKalb Stadium in the season opener for both squads. The Wildcats are 4-2 against North Springs having won the past three meetings including last year’s 21-9 victory on the road.
Arabia Mountain (at Maynard Jackson), Chamblee (at South Cobb), Columbia (at Camden Co.), Cross Keys (at Walker), M.L. King (at Duluth), Redan (at Central Carrollton) and Stone Mountain (at Chapel Hill) are all on the road on Friday.
A pair of DeKalb teams travel to Morehouse College for games on Saturday as Class 3A No. 1 ranked Cedar Grove takes on Dutchtown at 8:00 pm and Stephenson opens against Lithia Springs at 2:00 pm.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Aug. 17
ADAMS STADIUM
Berkmar (0-0) vs. Lakeside (0-0), 7:00 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
KIPP Academy (0-0) vs. Druid Hills (0-0), 7:00 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Rutland (0-0) vs. Towers (0-0), 7:00 pm
Friday, Aug. 18
ADAMS STADIUM
Miller Grove (0-0) vs. Tucker (0-0), 7:30 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
Northview (0-0) vs. McNair (0-0), 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
South Atlanta (0-0) vs. SW DeKalb (0-0), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Alcovy (0-0) vs. Lithonia (0-0), 7:30 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
North Springs (0-0) vs. Dunwoody (0-0), 7:30 pm
AWAY
Arabia Mountain (0-0) vs. Maynard Jackson (0-0), Henderson, 7:30 pm
Chamblee (0-0) at South Cobb (0-0), 7:30 pm
Columbia (0-0) at Camden Co. (0-0), 7:30 pm
Cross Keys (0-0) at Walker (0-0), 7:30 pm
M.L. King (0-0) at Duluth (0-0), 7:30 pm
Redan (0-0) at Central-Carrollton (0-0), 7:30 pm
Stone Mountain (0-0) at Chapel Hill (0-0), 7:30 pm
Saturday, Aug. 19
AWAY
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
Stephenson (0-0) vs. Lithia Springs (0-0), 2:00 pm
Cedar Grove (0-0) vs. Dutchtown (0-0), 8:00 pm
OPEN: Clarkston (0-0)