Thirteen DeKalb County football programs kick off their season tonight (Friday) headlined by the battle of ranked teams at newly renovated James R. Hallford Stadium between Class 6A No. 10 Stephenson and Class AAA No. 5 Cedar Grove at 7:30.

Stephenson Head Coach Ron Gartrell has been out as he recovers from hip surgery this summer and the Jaguars will be directed by Assistant Head Coach Donnie Sellers to open the season.

Cedar Grove is coming off a 2015 Class AAA Semifinal appearance and with a number of Division 1 recruits returning could be primed for a run for the title in 2016.

Three new coaches will debut at North DeKalb as it hosts a doubleheader beginning at 5:15. Chamblee under new coach Curtis Mattair and Druid Hills following the lead of new coach Myron Burton meet up in a rematch of last year’s thriller won in the final seconds by Chamblee’s Jansen King’s interception return.

The second game pits Lakeside under new head man Cam Jones taking on Dunwoody in a game between teams looking to turn around their 2015 fortunes in the 8:00 pm game.

Fans get a look at newly renovated William “Buck” Godfrey Stadium tonight at Martin Luther King and Columbia line up at 7:30 to kick off their seasons.

Arabia Mountain takes on Stone Mountain in the battle of the Mountains to christen newly renovated Adams Stadium in regular season play.

Other games tonight are Miller Grove led by new coach Justin Larmond facing off with Clarkston in a 7:30 at Avondale and Lithonia opens its season by traveling to Lakewood Stadium to take on Carver of Atlanta.

Three DeKalb teams are in action on Saturday as Class 6A No. 5 ranked Tucker butts heads with Kell in the Corky Kell Classic at 9 am at the Georgia Dome.

Southwest DeKalb begins a season dedicated to its late Coach Michael Tanks who suddenly passed away recently with a matchup against DeKalb rival Redan at 7:30 at Godfrey Stadium.

Cross Keys and McNair do not play this weekend.

In action on Thursday night, the Towers Titans lost a tough defensive battle to Forest Park 6-2 at Tara Stadium. Preseason All-State defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt lived up to his honors as he had approximately 10 tackles, 4 for a loss, a blocked punt and scored the only points of the game for Towers (0-1) with a tackle in the end zone for a safety.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WK 1
Thursday, Aug. 18
Forest Park (1-0) 6, Towers (0-1) 2

Friday, Aug. 19
Chamblee vs. Druid Hills, North DeKalb, 5:15 pm
M.L. King vs. Columbia, Godfrey, 7:30 pm
Stephenson vs. Cedar Grove, Hallford, 7:30 pm
Arabia Mountain vs. Stone Mountain, Adams, 7:30 pm
Miller Grove vs. Clarkston, Avondale, 7:30 pm
Lithonia vs. Carver-Atl, Lakewood, 7:30 pm
Lakeside vs. Dunwoody, North DeKalb, 8:00 pm

Saturday, Aug. 20
Tucker vs. Kell, Georgia Dome, 9:00 am
SW DeKalb vs. Redan, Godfrey, 7:30 pm

Open: Cross Keys, McNair

AJC/GHSFD PRESEASON RANKINGS
Class AAAAAA
1. Allatoona
2. Glynn Academy
3. Houston County
4. Northside (Warner Robins)
5. Tucker
6. Dacula
7. Lee County
8. Coffee
9. Valdosta
10. Stephenson

Class AAA
1. Westminster
2. Calhoun
3. Pace Academy
4. Greater Atlanta Christian
5. Cedar Grove
6. Peach County
7. Worth County
8. Westside (Macon)
9. Liberty County
10. Lovett