Columbia quarterbac Cameron Graves (1) scrambles away from the pressure put on by Miller Grove’s Mrlon McClean (41) as teammate Antonio Wihiters (55) tries to block the Wolverine. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Three third quarter touchdowns propelled the Columbia Eagles to the top of the Region 6-2A standings 34-0 over the Miller Grove Wolverines at homecoming inside Hallford Stadium on Friday night.
Leading 7-0 at the half, the Eagles (2-6, 2-0) kicked off to the Wolverines (4-4, 1-1) and forced a punt which Rashad Silver returned to the Miller Grove 22-yard line to set up the first of the three third-quarter scores.
Cameron Graves ran to the 11 and then on the following play hit Silver in the right flat for an 11-yard scoring play with 9:48 left in the period. Zach Davis hit the PAT to make it 14-0.
Pressure on another Miller Grove punt following a defensive stop keyed by two tackles for a loss and a quarterback pressure by Roynard Tolbert set the Eagles up in good field position once again at the Miller Grove 29. Six plays later Nishan Hillman ran up the middle on fourth and goal from the Miller Grove five-yard line to add to the Columbia lead. Davis again hit the PAT to make it 21-0.
Columbia got the ball back late in the third quarter and Graves dropped back to pass on the second play. The senior quarterback looked right and came back to the left hash to Silver who weaved his way 47 yards to the end zone. Davis made it 28-0 with the PAT.
The Eagles put the game away with 8:17 to play as Graves hit Malek Gates for a 16-yard gain and Hillman for 29 more. Graves then stepped up on the next play keeping for 17 yards and a score. A two-point try was no good by the Eagles.
Columbia’s Malek Gates (17) can’t get away from Miller Grove’s Zakih Camara. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Columbia’s first half score came with 11:23 remaining in the second quarter on the first play following another Miller Grove punt. Graves dropped and threw a quick hitter to Durante Speer who raced down the left sideline 65 yards for the touchdown. Davis hit the PAT for the early 7-0 lead.
Graves finished the night hitting on eight of 19 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns and adding 157 yards and touchdown on 19 carries. Hillman picked up 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground on 11 carries. Rashad Silver was two-for-two on touchdowns in the game with two receptions for 58 yards with touchdown catches of 11 and 47 yards.
The Eagles defense combined for 12 negative plays totaling 43 yards in the shutout and held Miller Grove to 111 yards of total offense.
SW DeKalb 42, Tucker 35
Southwest DeKalb’s Isaiah Oglesby (42) and Braylon Gilstrap (26) helped the Panthers’ defense keep Tucker out of the end zone in the two over time periods. (Photo by Mark Brock)
It took two overtimes for the Southwest DeKalb Panthers to break a two-game skid to the Tucker Tigers as they pulled out a 42-35 victory in Region 5-4A action at Adams Stadium on Friday night.
Tucker (5-2, 4-1) tied the game 35-35 with nine minutes to play on an Eli Ffrench kickoff return. Ffrench added the PAT to tie the game. Southwest DeKalb (5-3, 4-2) had just taken a 35-28 lead as Braylon Gilstrap had a strip sack and Chris Nunn scooped up the football and took it in for the go-ahead touchdown.
The defenses came up big in the first overtime. Southwest DeKalb’s Brandon Gunn picked off a pass to stop Tucker’s first overtime try. The Tigers defense held during Southwest DeKalb’s turn and forced a field goal try that was no good.
Southwest DeKalb got the ball first in the second overtime and cashed it in on Braylon Carter to Samuel Turner touchdown pass. Kelvin Saturday made it 42-35 with his made PAT.
The Panthers defense held in the Tucker half of the overtime to seal the win.
Cedar Grove 52, North Clayton 35
Zsewaun Smith put up five rushing touchdowns to lead the Cedar Grove Saints to a 52-35 Region 5-3A win over the North Clayton Eagles (3-5, 1-3) at Southern Crescent Stadium on Friday night.
Smith’s performance helped the Saints (2-5, 2-2) build a 38-7 lead before the Saints began to sub into the game. Josiah Moore had a pair of touchdown passes in the game as he connected with Cleve Sutherland and King Parrom on touchdown passes.
DCSD FOOTBALL WEEK 9 RESULTS
Wednesday, Oct. 9
Shiloh (1-6, 1-3) 13, Chamblee (1-6, 1-3)* 10
Thursday, Oct. 10
Northview (1-6, 1-4) 34, Clarkston (0-7, 0-5)* 0
Friday, Oct. 11
ADAMS STADIUM
SW DeKalb (5-3, 4-2) 42, Tucker (5-2, 4-1)* 35 2OT
COBB STADIUM
Social Circle (5-2, 3-0) 38, McNair (2-6, 0-4) 19
GODFREY STADIUM
Mays (5-2, 3-1) 20, M.L. King (2-5, 1-3)*15
HALLFORD STADIUM
Columbia (2-6, 2-0)* 34, Miller Grove (4-4, 1-1) 0
NORTH DEKALB
Lithonia (5-2, 3-2)* 27, North Springs (1-7, 1-5) 6
AWAY GAMES
Cedar Grove (2-5, 2-2) 52, North Clayton (3-5, 1-3) 35
Lanier Christian (4-3) 50, Cross Keys (0-6) 8
Woodward (5-3, 5-0) 49, Dunwoody (2-6, 1-4) 17
Putnam Co. (3-3, 2-2) 34, Towers (2-4, 0-3) 0
OPEN: Arabia Mountain (1-6), Druid Hills (2-5), Lakeside (4-3), Redan (2-5), Stephenson (4-3), Stone Mountain (0-7)
*–Region Game
(HC) – Homecoming
(SN) – Senior Night