Dunwoody’s Cameron Irastorza (left) runs for a big gain as Arabia Mountain’s Jaden Sancho (5) gives chase. Irastorza had a rushing and receiving touchdown in Dunwoody’s 28-19 win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Two losing skids ended this past weekend as the Dunwoody Wildcats and Chamblee Bulldogs picked up their first Region 4-5A wins of the 2024 high school football season.
Dunwoody (2-5, 1-3) got its victory on Friday night at North DeKalb Stadium as the Wildcats rallied from a 13-7 halftime deficit with three second half touchdowns to upend the Arabia Mountain Rams (1-6, 0-4) 28-19.
The Wildcats needed just two plays into the second half to take the lead at 14-13 as Matt Pearch hit Porter Allison for a 45-yard pass play and then hit Andrew Ainsworth in the end zone from 17 yards out. Christian Lee hit the PAT for the lead.
The score remained the same until with 7:20 remaining in the game Pearch threw 13 yards to the corner of the end zone to Max Quartararo who high pointed the pass for the touchdown grab. Lee hit the extra point to extend the margin to 21-13.
Arabia Mountain answered with a swing pass from Julian Shanks to Jonathan Odeh Adimah that covered 21 yards for the score. The two-point try was no good and Dunwoody held a 21-19 advantage.
The Wildcats marched right back down the field and Cameron Irastorza went the final three yards for the touchdown with just 1:53 remaining. Lee was again good on the PAT for a 28-19 margin.
Dunwoody forced a turnover on downs as fourth down pass went incomplete and then ran out the final 56 seconds for the win.
Arabia Mountain’s Jayden Thomas holds for an extra point by teammate Mohan Masih as the Rams grabbed a halftime lead in the loss to Dunwoody. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Wildcats scored first on the night as they went 52 yards on their first possession to score on eight-yard pass from Pearch to Irastorza. Lee made it 7-0 with 8:32 left in the opening period.
Arabia Mountain picked up good field position via a 55-yard kickoff return by Jordan Walker to the Dunwoody 44. Adimah finished off the drive with six-yard run for the touchdown. Mohan Mosih hit the PAT to knot the game at 7 with 7:30 left in the first quarter.
The Rams took the lead as the half ended on a Jordan Walker one-yard dive as the horn sounded. Dunwoody blocked the PAT for a 13-7 Arabia Mountain edge at the half.
Chamblee 23, Lakeside 21
The Chamblee Bulldogs jumped to a 23-0 halftime lead and survived a big second half comeback by the Lakeside Vikings for 23-21 Region 4-5A win at homecoming on Saturday at North DeKalb Stadium.
Sophomore Jaylen Tipton led the first half charge for the Bulldogs (1-5, 1-2) by catching one touchdown pass and throwing to junior running back George Ross for another. Senior Marco Pless added a touchdown run in the big first half for Chamblee.
Senior quarterback Kyle Davis (276 yards passing) led a valiant comeback attempt by the Vikings (4-3, 3-1) passing for a pair of touchdowns. He connected with Thomas Fortune (5 receptions, 105 yards) for a 35-yard score and hit Jayson Michel (3 receptions, 60 yards) for a 54-yard explosive play as well. Daniel Arzabe added a three-yard touchdown as the Vikings were within two.
Chamblee junior defensive tackle William Tate had a strip sack and junior defensive backs Brock Ryan and Michel Nickolov each picked off a pass.
Lakeside’s rally fell short as a 32-yard field goal for the win was no good.
Tucker 48, Druid Hills 3
The Tucker Tigers put up seven touchdowns as they rolled past the Druid Hills Red Devils (2-5 1-4) 48-3 for a Region 5-4A win on Friday night at Adams Stadium.
Sophomore quarterback Jace German threw three touchdown passes in the game including two 10-yard scores to Eli Ffrench and a one-yarder to Izayah Horsham to lead the Tigers (5-1, 4-0).
Ffrench also returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown to go with an 87-yard kickoff return by Josiah Horne and rushing touchdowns by Horsham and Andre Blackburn.
SW DeKalb 37, Lithonia 18
In another key Region 5-4A all-DeKalb matchup on Friday, the Southwest DeKalb Panthers went 29-8 run to notch a 37-18 victory over the Lithonia Bulldogs at Hallford Stadium.
Lithonia took a 10-8 lead in the first half on a Jamon Coggins to Albert Gooding screen pass that went for 90 yards. Zachary McCalla, who hit a field goal earlier in the game, knocked through extra point.
The Panthers defense took over from that point collecting four interceptions including a 40-yard pick six by Brandon Gunn. Jacobi Jefferson had two interceptions and Noah Johnson added another. Earnest Rankins put two points up on the board with a sack in the end zone.
Sam Turner had a 20-yard touchdown pass reception from Braylon Carter and Kelvin Saturday hit a pair of field goals in the game as well.
DCSD FOOTBALL WEEK 8 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 3
ADAMS STADIUM
Creekside Christian (3-3) 33, Cross Keys (0-5) 6
GODFREY STADIUM
Miller Grove (4-3, 1-0)* 41, Redan (2-5, 0-1) 6
HALLFORD STADIUM
St. Pius X (6-1, 5-0) 42, Clarkston (0-6, 0-4)* 0
AWAY GAME
LAKEWOOD STADIUM
Columbia (1-6, 1-0)* 56, South Atlanta (2-5, 0-1) 15
Friday, Oct. 4
ADAMS STADIUM
Tucker (5-1, 4-0) 48, Druid Hills (2-5, 1-4)* 3
COBB STADIUM
M.L. King (2-4, 1-2)* 47, Midtown (2-4, 1-2) 7
HALLFORD STADIUM
SW DeKalb (4-3, 3-2)* 37, Lithonia (4-2, 2-2) 18
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Dunwoody (2-5, 1-3) 28, Arabia Mountain (1-6, 0-4) 19
AWAY GAMES
Jasper Co. (5-1, 2-0) 22, McNair (2-5, 0-3)* 14
TARA STADIUM
Mt. Zion (4-2) 37, Stone Mountain (0-6) 6
Saturday, Oct. 5
COBB STADIUM
Lamar Co. (5-1, 2-0) 41, Towers (2-3, 0-2) 12
GODFREY STADIUM
Stephenson (4-3, 2-1) 41, Cedar Grove (1-5, 1-2)* 28
NORTH DEKALB STADUIM
Chamblee (1-5, 1-2)* 23, Lakeside (4-3, 3-1) 21
*–Region Game
(HC) — Homecoming