Miller Grove and Stephenson face off on Thursday night in five region games this weekend that have state playoff implications as the season is winding down.

Miller Grove (5-2, 1-1) and Stephenson (5-2, 1-1) clash for the eighth time in the series history on Thursday night at 7:00 pm at Hallford Stadium in a Region 6-4A meeting to stay in the chase for a home playoff berth.

Stephenson leads the series 5-2 having won last year’s matchup 55-20 over the Wolverines. Both teams are led by 2,000 career rushing running backs in Miller Grove’s Ta’Jon Corbitt (over 2,500 yards rushing, 25 TDs) and Stephenson’s Devin Ingram (2,445 yards rushing and 35 TDs).

Ingram had the game winning touchdown in a 20-13 win over Region 6-4A foe Westminster last week going 65-yards with 1:48 to play to rally the Jaguars from a 13-0 halftime deficit. Miller Grove fell 47-7 to Holy Innocent’s last Friday.

The 23rd meeting for the Redan Raiders (2-5, 1-2) and McNair Mustangs (4-3, 2-1) kickoffs at 7:30 pm on Friday at Avondale Stadium as the Raiders celebrate homecoming in this Region 5-2A battle.

McNair won a 44-41 thriller a year ago but Redan holds a 15-7 lead in the series. McNair is coming off a 34-20 Region 5-2A win over Towers in which running back Sedarian Williams ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries and quarterback Jeremy Victor threw for one touchdown and ran for another.

Redan dropped a 20-7 decision on the road at Eagle’s Landing Christian last Friday. Versatile Jamir Brown (9 rushing touchdowns) leads the Raiders into the matchup.

Cedar Grove (2-5, 0-0) finally gets to play within its own classification for the first time this season as they open Region 5-3A play by hosting the Douglass Astros (5-2, 0-0) in a 7:30 pm game at Godfrey Stadium on Friday.

The Saints lost a last minute 13-9 nailbiter to Montgomery, Alabama’s Carver this past Friday. Douglass picked up a 17-6 win over Jackson.

The Columbia Eagles (4-3, 2-1) host Eagle’s Landing Christian (2-4, 2-0) in a Region 5-2A meeting on Friday at 7:30 pm at Hallford Stadium.

Columbia is coming off a 64-7 region road win over Landmark Christian that included a five-touchdown performance by Jadan Baugh (4 rushing, 1 punt return). Eagle’s Landing held off Redan 20-7 to pick up their second region win of the season. Eagle’s Landing won the first ever meeting between the two teams 28-25 last season.

The Dunwoody Wildcats (5-1, 0-1) look to take a step towards a playoff spot as they host the St. Pius X Golden Lions (1-5, 0-1) in a 7:30 pm kickoff at North DeKalb Stadium on Friday.

St. Pius holds a 7-2 lead in the series between the two schools from DeKalb County. Dunwoody last won in the 2008 season in a close 20-14 decision. Dunwoody is coming off a bye week while St. Pius fell 31-8 to North Atlanta in its region opener.

Seven DeKalb football teams are taking a bye week and will return to action next week.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 9
Thursday, Oct 12
AVONDALE STADIUM
Druid Hills (4-1-1) vs. Clarkston (1-5), 7:00 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Callaway (3-2) vs. Towers (0-6), 7:00 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Miller Grove (5-2) vs. Stephenson (5-2)*, 7:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 13
ADAMS STADIUM
McDonough (4-2) vs. Stone Mountain (1-5), 7:30 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
McNair (4-3) vs. Redan (2-5)*(HC), 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Douglass (5-2) vs. Cedar Grove (2-5)*(HC), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Eagle’s Landing Christian (2-4) vs. Columbia (4-3)*(HC), 7:30 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
St. Pius (1-5) at Dunwoody (5-1)*, 7:30 pm

AWAY GAMES
Southwest DeKalb (2-5) vs. Holy Innocents (6-1)*, 7:30 pm

OPEN: Arabia Mountain (6-1), Chamblee (3-4), Cross Keys (0-7), Lakeside (3-4), Lithonia (1-6), M.L. King (2-5), Tucker (4-3)
*–Region Game