Stephenson’s Zahkir Muhammed (6) tackles Chamblee’s Antwan Middleton (3) for a loss during Stephenson’s 20-0 first round win in the Trail to the Title middle school football playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Stephenson Jaguar defense came up big to set up scores for the offense on the way to a 20-0 victory over the Chamblee Bulldogs to open first round action of the middle school football Trail to the Title playoffs at Cobb Stadium in Avondale on Saturday.
The first score of the game came following a big tackle for a loss on fourth down by Stephenson’s Zahkir Muhammed as he tracked down Antwan Middleton for a six-yard loss to force the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on downs at their own 39.
Norris Morris then ripped off runs of 17 and 19 yards to the move the Jaguars (4-3) to the eight-yard line. Two plays later Stephenson’s John Kawan scored on a three-yard run to give the Jaguars the lead for good with 5:22 to play in the second quarter. Peyton Key tacked on the two-point conversion via the run for an 8-0 lead.
Chamblee (4-3), the Region 1 champion, marched to the Stephenson 17 using a 24-yard pass play from MJ Jackson to Maurice Sykes. But a five-yard loss on third and three came as the half ended keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
Chamblee’s Maurice Sykes (11) hauls in a pass for a big gain for the Bulldogs in front of Stephenson’s Carlos Foney (17). (Photo by Mark Brock)
On the third play of the second half Leland Walker intercepted a Bulldog pass and the Jaguars set up on the Chamblee 30. A facemask penalty against the Bulldogs on a six-yard run by Cam Livsey put Stephenson on the Chamblee seven-yard line. Key finished the drive on the next play going seven yards into the end zone with 56 seconds left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no good to keep the score at 14-0.
A 19-yard swing pass from Jackson to Damon Garcia had the Bulldogs down to the Stephenson 35. Three plays later Stephenson’s Lavontae Miller stepped in front of a pass for an interception to give the Jaguars the football with 4:39 to play. Jayveon Bailey needed just two plays to get the Jaguars into the end zone with runs of 42 and 21 yards. The two-point conversion was stopped and the Jaguars held a 20-0 lead with 3:51 to play.
Chamblee began driving again as Jackson and Sykes hit for a 15-yard pass play and Jackson ran for 22 yards down to the Jaguar 19. Losses of six and 10 yards pushed the Bulldogs back to the 35 and on fourth and 26 Jackson and Sykes connected again but the 22-yard play came up four yards shy of the first down to give Stephenson the football for the final 17 seconds.
Stephenson’s defense held the Bulldogs to 66 yards of total offense by putting together 11 plays for a loss, two interceptions and two turnovers on downs to seal the shutout victory. Stephenson advances to the semifinals for a county record 14th time and for the fourth consecutive time to face 2023 championship opponent Cedar Grove in a 9:00 am tilt at Cobb Stadium.
DCSD MS FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS RESULTS
Saturday, Oct. 12
FIRST ROUND
Stephenson (4-3) 20, Chamblee (4-3) 0
Cedar Grove (7-0) 20, Champion (5-2) 0
Redan (7-0) 20, Freedom (3-4) 0
Chapel Hill (6-1) 20, Lithonia (6-1), 14
DCSD MS FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Saturday Oct. 26
SEMIFINALS
COBB STADIUM
Cedar Grove (7-0) vs. Stephenson (4-3), 9:00 am
Redan (7-0) vs. Chapel Hill (6-1), 10:30 am