Stephenson Jaguar Gavin Kinchen scored three touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 interception) to lead the Jaguars to a 24-8 win over the Lithonia Bulldogs in the opening game of the Trail to the Title Playoffs first round at Avondale Stadium. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Trailing 8-6 at the half, the Stephenson Jaguars scored three second half touchdowns to rally past the Lithonia Bulldogs in a first round game of the DeKalb Trail to the Title Middle School Football Playoffs at Avondale Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams had scored on their opening possessions of the first half with Stephenson taking the early 6-0 lead on a 39-yard run by Gavin Kinchen on the third play from scrimmage.
Lithonia then got a 51-yard kickoff return down to the Stephenson 34 by Bryson Johnson to set up the Bulldogs’ scoring drive. On a third and 16 from the Jaguar 26, Lithonia quarterback Kameron Alexander dropped back and found Orlando Myco in the corner of the end zone for the tying score. Jakari Jackson tacked on the two-point conversion to make it 8-6 Lithonia.
Stephenson forced a three and out on Lithonia’s first possession of the second half and after a 12-yard punt return by Kinchen needed just three plays to score. Two hard runs of 18 and 17 yards by Wayne Jenkins got the Jaguars fans fired up and Kinchen went the final six yards for his second touchdown of the game. The two-point run failed and the Jaguars led 12-8 with 4:53 to play in the third quarter.
Lithonia’s next drive was ended by a Demario Minter II interception and the Bulldogs made a big defensive stand stopping the Jaguars on downs at the Bulldog 10 as Demondre Wyatt stopped Jenkins for a two-yard loss on fourth down.
Lithonia’s Orlando Myco celebrates his touchdown reception in the first quarter of the Bulldogs’ 24-8 first round loss to the Stephenson Jaguars on Saturday at Avondale Stadium. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Stephenson forced a three-and-out by Lithonia and took over on the Lithonia 43 to begin another scoring drive. A 23-yard run by Kinchen set up a three-yard touchdown run by Jenkins to push the margin to 18-8 with 7:39 to play.
Lithonia’s next possession ended badly as Kinchen pulled down an interception and returned it 55 yards for the score with 4:43 to play to make the final of 24-8.
Stephenson forced Lithonia to turn the ball over on downs and then ran out the final 2:52 to seal the win.
Quentez Shaffer (4) tackles and Kamron Rorie (3 tackles) both had a sack for the Jaguar defense with Rorie added a forced fumble.
Stephenson (7-0) moved one step closer to defending its 2022 title as the Jaguars head to the semifinals on Saturday at 10:30 am against McNair (7-0), a 16-6 winner over Chamblee, at Godfrey Stadium.
WEEK 8 – OCT. 21
First Round of Playoffs
Avondale Stadium
Stephenson (7-0) 24, Lithonia (4-3) 8
McNair (7-0) 16, Chamblee (3-4) 6
Cedar Grove (5-2) 12, Champion (5-1-1) 6
Chapel Hill (6-1) 28, Tucker (5-1-1) 6
WEEK 9 – OCT. 28
Semifinal Round
GODFREY STADIUM
Stephenson (7-0) vs. McNair (7-0), 10:30 am
Chapel Hill (6-1) vs. Cedar Grove (5-2), 12:00 am