DeKalb County Trail to the Title middle school football champions Cedar Grove Saints play host to Atlanta Public Schools champions John Lewis Lions in the second annual APS-DCSD Middle School Football Challenge at 9:00 am on Saturday at DeKalb’s Avondale Stadium.

The Cedar Grove Saints (7-2) upset undefeated and defending Trail to the Title champion Stephenson 14-10 to earn their way into the APS-DCSD Football Challenge.

Saints quarterback Brandon Davis ran for a one-yard touchdown and threw a TD pass to Dale Perry as the Saints scored 14 second quarter points on the way to the win. They had to hold Stephenson which got a fumble return for a touchdown and a two-point conversion to close the gap to 14-10 with 2:17 to play.

Dale Perry had the second of two interceptions with no time left on the clock to seal the win.

Cedar Grove dropped its season opener 24-8 to the same Stephenson team before reeling off three consecutive shutouts in wins over Columbia (30-0), Druid Hills (36-0) and Bethune (40-0).

A 36-14 loss to McNair gave the undefeated Mustangs the Region 4 title. The Saints went on to defeat Redan 40-0 to clinch the No. 2 seed.

Cedar Grove won a thrilling 12-6 overtime game against Region 1 No. 1 seed Champion to open the playoffs and followed with a 28-14 win over Chapel Hill to reach the championship game against Stephenson. The title was Cedar Grove’s third in the history of the championship.

The John Lewis Lions (8-1) earned the berth in the APS-DCSD Football Challenge by winning the APS championship 22-0 over defending champions Crawford Long Tigers.

Casey Barner led the way in the win with two touchdowns and added an interception on defense. Barner was named the MVP of the game and the season.

The Lions jumped to a 5-0 record to start the year with wins over Bunche (48-0), Howard (46-0), KIPP West (6-0) and Young (14-8).

Sutton knocked on the Lions in Week 7 in a tight 20-16 battle between the two squads.

John Lewis finished the regular season 5-1 with a 32-0 win over Beacon Hills (Decatur).

The Lions opened the playoffs with a 48-0 win over Sylvan to set up a rematch with Sutton in the semifinals.

John Lewis took down Sutton 28-12 to make up for the regular season loss and move into the championship game.

The first APS-DCSD Middle School Football Challenge was hosted by APS in 2022 with Crawford Long Tigers (APS) taking a 22-18 win over the Stephenson Jaguars (DCSD).

Long was able to hold off the Jaguars who were driving deep in Tigers territory as time ran out in the game.

The win gave APS the inaugural win in the Challenge.

SERIES RECORD
2022 (APS leads 1-0)
Long 22, Stephenson 18
2023
Lewis vs. Cedar Grove

JOHN LEWIS (8-1)
John Lewis 48, Bunche 0
John Lewis 46, Howard 0
John Lewis 6, KIPP West 0
John Lewis 14, Young 8
John Lewis 16, Sutton 20
John Lewis 32, Beacon Hills 0
FIRST ROUND
John Lewis 48, Sylvan 0
SEMIFINALS
John Lewis 28, Sutton 12
APS CHAMPIONSHIP
John Lewis 22, Long 0

CEDAR GROVE (7-2)
Cedar Grove 8, Stephenson 24
Cedar Grove 30, Columbia 0
Cedar Grove 36, Druid Hills 0
Cedar Grove 40, Bethune 0
Cedar Grove 14, McNair 36
Cedar Grove 40, Redan 0
FIRST ROUND
Cedar Grove 12, Champion 6 (OT)
SEMIFINALS
Cedar Grove 28, Chapel Hill 14
DCSD CHAMPIONSHIP
Cedar Grove 14, Stephenson 10