McNair quarterback Jeremy Victor leads the Mustangs against the Druid Hills Red Devils in a battle of 1-0 teams on Friday at 7:30 on the field at North DeKalb Stadium. (Photo by Mark Brock)
DeKalb County football features four All-DeKalb matchups this weekend as 18 teams vie for victories during the second week of action.
Three of the DeKalb matchups are set for stadiums here featuring the McNair Mustangs (1-0) and Druid Hills (1-0), both winners in their season openers, as they meet at North DeKalb Stadium at 7:30 pm.
McNair opened the season with a 25-7 victory over Northview last week behind the play of their opportunistic defense which had three interceptions including two pick sixes (Keyontae Phillips and Syncere Carroll). Malik Jackson anchored the defensive front with three tackles for a loss and a sack against Northview. Quarterback Jeremy Victor rushed for over 100 yards and threw two touchdown passes (one to Phillips) to lead the offense.
Druid Hills opened the season with a 26-7 win over KIPP Atlanta (0-1) behind three touchdowns by Jaden George (15 carries, 93 years rushing; 1 reception for 26 yards) and some big turnovers caused by the defense. Xavier Norris recovered a fumble caused by John Golden that led to one of George’s touchdowns and Taylor Holloman recovered another fumble for a touchdown.
Druid Hills broke a six-game losing streak to the Mustangs last season with a thrilling 21-20 win. Both teams finished the 2022 season with 4-6 records and McNair holds a 7-3 advantage in the series whose first game was played in 1988, a 20-0 Druid Hills win.
Druid Hills Jaden George ahd three touchdowns last week and heads up the Red Devils on both sides of the football as they take on McNair on Friday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Chamblee (1-0) vs. Towers (0-1)
The Chamblee Bulldogs (1-0) travel to Avondale Stadium to take on the Towers Titans (0-1) at 7:30 pm on Friday in the 16th meeting between the two teams.
Towers had a five-game win streak in the series from 1996-2000 and the Bulldogs have won the last two meetings in 2001 (8-7) and 2023 (59-0).
Towers is coming off a hard-fought 26-6 loss to Rutland last week. The Titans lone score came as Tramon Wooten hauled in a touchdown pass.
Chamblee jumped out in front of South Cobb and held on for a 35-29 win on the road last week. Quarterback Ashton Bolston accounted for 277 yards of offense including three touchdown passes and one rushing. Larry Harris had 212 yards in kickoff returns including a 98-yard return for a touchdown while scoring a receiving touchdown and collecting 12 total tackles on the night.
Stone Mountain (0-1) vs. Redan (0-1)
The Stone Mountain Pirates (0-1) and Redan Raiders (0-1) meet for the 27th time at 7:30 pm on Friday at Hallford Stadium with both teams looking for their first win on the season.
Redan leads the series 21-15 and won the first meeting in 1978 and broke a three-year drought in the series with a 34-6 win a year ago.
Southwest DeKalb (1-0) vs. Tucker (1-0)
The 24th meeting between the two winningest DeKalb football teams features the Southwest DeKalb Panthers (1-0) facing the Tucker Tigers (1-0) in a non-region battle at Morehouse College on Saturday at 5:30 pm.
The two programs have combined for 1,092 wins, 36 regions titles and four state titles and first met in 1966 (a 13-9 Southwest win). Tucker has won eight of the last 10 meeting including a very close 31-29 win in 2023. Southwest DeKalb won the 2022 meeting 34-9 to break a six-game skid against the Tigers.
Southwest DeKalb under first-year head coach Marion Bell opened the season with a 20-6 win over South Atlanta last week. A 65-yard pick six by Tre Alexander and a 48-yard touchdown run by Josh Jones spurred the Panthers into the lead. BriShaun Reese added a three-yard touchdown run as well.
Isaiah Scott led a Panther defense that held South Atlanta to just the six points and 32 yards of total offense on the night as he tallied seven tackles (4 solo). Zyeed Conwell picked up two quarterback sacks on four tackles and Samuel Turner made is three tackles count with a sack and two tackles for a loss.
Tucker won 54-13 over Miller Grove behind the play of running back Jordan McCoy, quarterback Jamar Graham and receiver/defensive back Hasaan Sykes. McCoy put five touchdowns on the board while Graham passed for 221 yards and a touchdown (Sykes, 67 yards) and Sykes had the touchdown reception and a 36-yard interception for a score.
Thursday Games
This week’s football kicks off with a pair of Thursday night games as Cross Keys (0-1) entertains Rock Springs (0-1) at 7:00 pm at Adams Stadium and Cedar Grove (1-0) travels to Coconut Creek, Florida to take on the Monarch Knights (0-0).
Cross Keys and first-year head coach Eric Quarles and Rock Springs both dropped their season openers and vying for their first win of the season.
Cedar Grove is coming off a 34-33 thriller against No. 9 ranked Dutchtown (0-1) last Saturday at Morehouse as they travel to Florida in Week 2. The Saints opponent, Monarch, is playing its season opener. The Knights went 9-3 a year ago dropping a tough 35-28 overtime decision in the second round of their state playoffs.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 2
Thursday, Aug. 24
Adams Stadium
Rock Springs (0-1) vs. Cross Keys (0-1), 7:00 pm
AWAY
Coconut Creek
Cedar Grove (1-0) vs. Monarch, FL (0-0), 7:30 pm, Coconut Creek HS
Friday, Aug. 25
AVONDALE STADIUM
Chamblee (1-0) vs. Towers (0-1), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stone Mountain (0-1) vs. Redan (0-1), 7:30 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
McNair (1-0) vs. Druid Hills (1-0), 7:30 pm
AWAY
Arabia Mountain (0-1) at Heritage-Conyers (1-0), 7:30 pm
Clarkston (0-0) at Berkmar (0-1), 7:30 pm
Columbia (0-1) at Woodland-Stockbridge (0-1), 7:30 pm
Lakeside (1-0) at Northview (0-1), 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
Stephenson (1-0) at Riverdale (0-1), 7:30 pm, Southern Crescent
Saturday, Aug. 26
AWAY
Miller Grove (0-1) vs. Maynard Jackson (1-0), 7:30 pm, Henderson
SW DeKalb (1-0) vs. Tucker (1-0), 5:30 pm, Morehouse College
OPEN: Dunwoody (1-0)