Arabia Mountain receiver Alex Richard (7) looks over his shoulder as he hauls in a 35-yard scoring strike from quarterback Solomon Washington in front of Locust Grove’s Antonio Jordan (11). (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Arabia Mountain Rams scored four first-quarter touchdowns on the way to a 41-16 win over the Locust Grove Wildcats on Thursday night at Godfrey Stadium.
Arabia Mountain (4-1) scored on its first two plays from scrimmage to open up a quick 14-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game.
The first score came on the first play by the Rams following the opening kickoff as quarterback Solomon Washington dropped back and threw down the right seam to Daniel Ndukwe who out jumped a pair of defenders for the ball and raced the rest of the way into the end zone for a 77-yard touchdown. Mahin Masih hit the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 11:44 left in the first quarter.
Locust Grove (1-4) was forced to punt on its first possession, and it was partially blocked after a low snap. The Rams took over at the Wildcats 35.
Another drop back by Washinton and throw down the middle to Alex Richard was hauled in at the goal line for the 35-yard scoring play. Masih was good on the PAT again to make it 14-0 with 10:00 minutes left on the first quarter clock.
Antonio Jordan intercepted a Washington pass, but two plays later Kenneth Hollinger picked off McAlister and raced 85 yards for the pick six with 6:24 to play in the opening period. The PAT was no good and the Rams were up 20-0.
On the first play following the kickoff a Locust Grove running back was stripped of the football in a crowd of Ram defenders and Ndukwe scooped it up and ran 31 yards for the fourth touchdown of the quarter for the Rams. Masih hit the PAT to make it 27-0 with 6:06 to play.
Arabia Mountain defensive back Kenneth Hollinger is off the races after intercepting a pass. He would go 85 yards for the touchdown on the pick-six. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Locust Grove got the ball to start the second quarter on the Arabia 31-yard line. McAlister passed to the side to Maurice Sellers who slipped away for a 16-yard gain. The Rams defense stiffened and forced a 32-yard field goal by Miguel Pascaru that cut the lead to 27-3 with 8:33 to play.
Jordan Miller upped the lead to 34-3 on the ensuing kickoff as he took wound his way to the left and then right on the way to a 60-yard touchdown return. Masih hit the PAT to make it 34-3.
Locust Grove got the football back with 1:33 to play in the first half and scored on a nine-yard touchdown pass from McAlister to Julius Lowe around the left side. A two-point run failed, and Arabia Mountain was up 34-9 at the half.
It would be the fourth quarter before another score came about as Jonathan Adeh Adimah finished off a three-play drive with a 10-yard touchdown run set up by his 19-yard run. Masih hit the PAT to make it 41-9 with 9:30 to play.
Brandon Lowe’s 31-yard run, and a 12-yard run by Taj Callahan set up a six-yard touchdown pass from McAlister to Nikhia Daniel with 4:02 to play. Parascu hit the PAT to make the final score of 41-16.
Arabia Mountain’s 4-1 start is only the second time in school history they have reached the mark, the last time coming 2016 when the Rams finished 9-3 and reached the second round of the state playoffs.
In other action on Thursday night, Cross Keys (0-6) fell 34-0 to Harvester Christian (2-3) at Adams Stadium and Stone Mountain (0-5) dropped a 34-0 decision to Drew (2-3) at Hallford Stadium.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 6
Thursday, Sept. 21
ADAMS STADIUM
Harvester Christian (2-3) 34, Cross Keys (0-6) 0
GODFREY STADIUM
Arabia Mountain (4-1) 41, Locust Grove (1-4) 16
HALLFORD STADIUM
Charles Drew (2-3) 34, Stone Mountain (0-5) 0
Friday, Sept. 22
ADAMS STADIUM
Dunwoody (4-0) vs. Lakeside (3-1), 7:30 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
Callaway (3-1) vs. Redan (1-3)*, 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Columbia (2-2) vs. McNair (2-2)*, 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Tucker (2-2) vs. Stephenson (3-1), 7:30 pm
AWAY GAMES
Cedar Grove (2-3) at Colquitt Co. (4-0), 7:30 pm
Clarkston (1-3) at Heard Co. (0-4), 7:30 pm
Druid Hills (2-1-1) at Southwest Whitfield (1-3), 7:30 pm
M.L. King (1-3) at Cass (2-2), 7:30 pm
Saturday, Sept. 23
AWAY GAME
LAKEWOOD STADIUM
Lithonia (1-3) vs. Douglass (3-2), 4:00 pm
OPEN: Chamblee (2-3), Miller Grove (4-1), SW DeKalb (2-3), Towers (0-4)