Four DeKalb County middle school football teams hit the gridiron on Saturday morning at Avondale Stadium with the opportunity to advance to the Trail to the Title Championship on Saturday, November 2.

The defending champion Cedar Grove Saints (7-0) are undefeated as they face off with the Stephenson Jaguars (4-3) in a rematch of last year’s title game. The Saints upset the defending champion Jaguars 14-10 in a thriller last fall and also won the two team’s meeting earlier this season 28-6.

Cedar Grove, the Region 4 champion, reached the semifinals with a 20-0 win over the Champion Chargers (5-2) two weeks ago. Cedar Grove managed 149 yards against the tough Champion defense, 70 of which came on the drive to open the second half to extend the lead to 14-0. The Saints were up 8-0 at the half.

Stephenson had to win its final regular season game against Druid Hills to make the playoffs and then dispatched the Region 1 champion Chamblee Bulldogs (4-3) 20-0 by holding Chamblee to just 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 and reach the rematch with the Saints.

The two teams open the day at 9:00 am at Avondale Stadium.

The second game of the semifinal is set for a 10:30 am kickoff with undefeated the Redan Raiders (7-0) taking on the Chapel Hill Panthers (6-1).

Redan is 7-0 for the first time and has moved into the semifinal round for the first time in the history of the program. The Raiders went 6-0 in the regular season to win the Region 3 title. Redan’s defense held the Rams to just 77 yards of total offense while collecting 206 yards off offense as Redan picked up its first ever Trail to the Playoffs victory.

Chapel Hill’s only loss of the season was to the defending champion Cedar Grove Saints. The Panthers rebounded to win the final regular season game and then scored in the third quarter to take the lead on the previously undefeated Lithonia Bulldogs (6-1) on the way to a 20-14 win. Three turnovers (2 first half interceptions and a fumble to set up the winning drive) aided the Panthers win against Lithonia.

The Trail to the Title championship is set for Saturday, November 2 at 11:00 am at Avondale Stadium.

See link below for semifinal program with team info and playoff history:

TRAIL TO THE TITLE SEMIFINALS PROGRAM

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
GODFREY STADIUM
Cedar Grove (7-0) vs. Stephenson (4-3), 9:00 am
Redan (7-0) vs. Chapel Hill (6-1), 10:30 am