Redan’s Demario Hopkins (22) looks for running room as Freedom defenders Jamari Miller (30) and Travis Jenkins (59) give pursuit during Redan’s 20-0 playoff win to stay undefeated. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Defense and special teams play fueled the undefeated Redan Raiders in a 20-0 Trail to the Title middle school football playoffs first round victory over the Freedom Rams in the third game on Saturday at Cobb Stadium in Avondale.
Jervontae Barber made the first big defensive play for the Raiders as he had an apparent 80-yard pick-six called back for a block in the back after Freedom’s Ammond Edwards had stopped the Raiders with a fumble recovery on the Raiders’ first drive of the game.
Redan (7-0) recovered after the call back to put together an 83-yard drive with Barber doing the honors by tossing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Clark with just 1:22 to play in the first half. The two-point conversion failed to keep the score at 6-0 at the half.
Redan ended the half with an interception by Demario Hopkins to take a 6-0 lead into halftime.
Freedom’s opening drive of the second half ended badly as the Rams (3-4) had a punt blocked and Redan got the football at the Rams’ 25-yard line. Benjamin Jackson closed out the drive with a three-yard run for the touchdown with 2:20 left in third quarter. Barber tacked on the two-point conversion via the ground to make it 14-0 in favor of the Raiders.
Freedom’s Jamonte Sherman (5) makes a leaping catch in front of Redan’s Benjamin Jackson (3) during Freedom’s first round loss to Redan. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Redan got a turnover on downs at the Freedom 37 as a fourth down pass went incomplete. The Raiders needed seven plays to cover the 37 yards as Demario Hopkins went the final 11 for the touchdown with 4:03 to play in the game. The two-point conversion failed to keep the margin at 20-0.
Freedom’s Jabari Ponds led a march down to the Raiders’ 23-yard line hitting Deashaun Goodson for nine yards and Jamonte Sherman for 11 yards and running for 21 yards. Time ran out as the Raiders got a sack on the final play.
Redan’s defense held the Rams to just 77 yards of total offense while collecting 206 yards off offense. Redan picked up its first ever Trail to the Playoffs victory to advance to take on Chapel Hill on Saturday, October 26 at Cobb stadium with kickoff set for 10:30 am.
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