Stephenson’s Colin Seals (2) helping Davion Gaither (21) on a tackle against Tucker earlier this season. Seals had a big pick-six in Stephenson’s 35-7 Class 4A playoff win over Luella on Friday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
For the first time since 2016 DeKalb County has three teams in the Elite Eight round of the state football playoffs as Cedar Grove (Class 3A), Columbia (Class 2A) and Stephenson (Class 4A) advanced with Sweet 16 wins on Friday night.
This marks the first time since 2016 for DeKalb to have three teams in the third round of the state playoffs. Cedar Grove and Stephenson were part of that trio which included the Tucker Tigers.
The Stephenson Jaguars (10-2) earned a host role for the third round of the Class 4A state playoffs by knocking off the Luella Lions (6-6) 35-7 at Hallford Stadium on Friday night.
Stephenson scored three times in the first quarter to jump on Luella 21-0 and cruising to the win. Quarterback Marte Barton connected on passes of 25 yards and 45 yards to Tyler Bercy as the Jaguars got out in front 14-0.
On Luella’s next possession Colin Seals jumped a pass and turned it into a 44-yard pick-six with 20 seconds left in the first quarter to push the lead to 21-0 as Anthony Zelaya (5-5 PATs) hit his third PAT of the quarter.
Luella scored on its next possession to trim the lead to 21-7 with 4:17 to play in the half. Trent Fields Jr. got the margin back up to 21 as he returned the kickoff 82 yards for a score with 4:05 left in the half. Stephenson took the 28-7 lead into halftime.
Both teams failed to score in the third quarter with the Jaguars’ defense stopping Luella twice. Romando Craddock (13 tackles, 11 solo) picked up one of his three sacks in the game to force the Lions to turn the ball over on downs and then Andrew Perry had an interception to end another Luella possession.
The Jaguars drove down to score with 6:12 to play as Perry finished things off with three-run for the touchdown for the final of 35-7 with Zelaya’s final PAT of the night.
Tyler Bercy finished the night with six receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns while Barton finished six of eight passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Donterious McKenzie added 13 total tackles to match Craddock for the team high.
The No. 9 ranked Jaguars play host to the No. 7 ranked Perry Panthers (10-2), the Region 2-4A runners-up, which knocked off No. 3 ranked Bainbridge 7-3 to advance. The game is set for 7:30 pm on Friday at Hallford Stadium. It is Stephenson’s first Elite Eight since the 2016 season.
Cedar Grove’s Bo Walker (with ball) on a big run against Collins Hill earlier this season. Walker had 191 yards rushing and five touchdowns to lead the Saints to 49-13 second round playoff win over Bremen. (Photo by Mark Brock)
CEDAR GROVE 49, BREMEN 13
Bo Walker rushed for 191 yards and scored five touchdowns on just 15 carries to lead the No. 2 ranked Cedar Grove Saints to a 49-13 win over the Bremen Blue Devils on Friday night at Godfrey Stadium.
Walker had a pair of touchdown runs over 40 yards as the Saints took 28-7 lead at the half. Cedar Grove scored three third quarter touchdowns to up the lead to 49-7.
Quarterback EJ Colson threw for 196 yards and a touchdown as he hit on 14 of 16 passes in the game. Devin Carter had six receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Bremen (9-3) scored a late touchdown to make the final of 49-13. The Saints caused a pair of turnovers with Nash Johnson picking up an interception and Wesley Brown causing a fumble.
Cedar Grove (7-5) goes on the road this week with a trip to Forsyth to take on No. 3 ranked Mary Persons (11-1), the Region 2-3A champs, who knocked Crisp County out of the playoffs with a 42-20 win on Friday. The Saints are in the Elite Eight for the 10th consecutive season.
Columbia quarterback Cameron Graves (1) on the run against Eagle’s Landing Christian during the regular season. Graves threw two touchdown psses as the Eagles rallied for an 18-13 win on the road against North Cobb Christian in the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)
COLUMBIA 18, NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN 13
The Columbia Eagles advanced to the Elite Eight round of the state playoffs with a come from behind 18-13 victory on the road at North Cobb Christian on Friday night.
Trailing 13-12 the Eagles grabbed the lead for good with 7:19 to play when Cameron Graves threw to Jadan Baugh for the touchdown and the 18-13 lead.
North Cobb Christian (9-3) drove down late and the Eagles got their second turnover on downs when they forced North Cobb Christian into an incomplete pass. Columbia took over and ran out the clock to seal the win.
Columbia grabbed the first lead of the game in the second quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Graves to Charles Harris to go up 6-0 late in the first quarter.
North Cobb tied the game at 6-6 with 7:31 left in the half and the Eagles answered on a Jaden Baugh run to go up 12-6 with 5:32 left in the half. The lead held up until halftime.
The lead flipped to North Cobb with 2:06 to play in the third quarter and North Cobb led until the fourth quarter score by Columbia.
Graves finished the game rushing for 101 yards on six carries and hit on 7 of 12 passes and two touchdowns to lead the Eagles. Edwin Moore came up big on defense with seven total tackles, including two big tackles for a loss.
Columbia advances to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1997. The Eagles travel to Adel on Friday to take on the No. 9 ranked Cook Hornets (10-2), the Region 1-2A champs, who advanced with a 24-14 win over No. 2 ranked Appling County.
DCSD FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RESULTS
Friday, Nov. 17
GODFREY STADIUM
CLASS 3A
Cedar Grove (7-5) 49, Bremen (9-3) 13
HALLFORD STADIUM
CLASS 4A
Stephenson (10-2) 35, Luella (6-6) 7
AWAY
CLASS 2A
Columbia (9-3) 18, North Cobb Christian (9-3) 13
DCSD FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 24
HALLFORD STADIUM
CLASS 4A
Perry (10-2) vs. Stephenson (10-2), 7:30 pm
AWAY
CLASS 3A
Cedar Grove (7-5) at Mary Persons (), 7:30 pm
CLASS 2A
Columbia (9-3) at Cook (), 7:30 pm