Southwest DeKalb’s Michael Tanks punts against Creekside last week. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Southwest DeKalb and Stephenson renew their DCSD rivalry for the 13th time to highlight this weekend’s light schedule of DeKalb County football.
Eight teams are taking a breather in Week 4, but Hallford Stadium should be rocking for the 8:00 pm battle between the Panthers and Jaguars on Friday.
Stephenson has won five in a row in the rivalry to take a 7-5 lead in the series entering Friday’s game, including the past four following a six-year hiatus in the matchup from 2006 to 2011.
The Jaguars enter the contest at 0-2 with losses to Top 10 ranked Cedar Grove (No. 4 in Class 3A) and Mill Creek (No. 2 in Class 7A). Stephenson has shutout the Panthers three times in the five consecutive wins, including a 55-0 victory in 2015. Southwest DeKalb has managed just 14 points total in the five games while Stephenson has averaged 30.6 points per game in the streak.
Jaylen Marson-Knight leads the Jaguar offense with his 127 yards rushing over the first two games.
Southwest DeKalb (2-1) comes into the rivalry game off their first loss of the season (47-14 to Creekside) after opening the season with wins over Redan (23-12) and Cedar Grove (21-20). Southwest’s last win in the series came in 2004 with a thrilling 14-13 win.
The Panthers are playing to honor their late Coach Michael Tanks who passed away during preseason practice.
Junior quarterback Justin Tomlin fuels the Panthers’ offense. Tomlin has thrown for 653 yards and 4 touchdowns and is the team’s leading rusher with 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Javeon Cody has 7 receptions for 188 yards and touchdown as a big target for Tomlin.
Druid Hills quarterback Harrison Aiken leads the Red Devils against the Lakeside Vikings on Friday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
An old neighborhood rivalry renews in the regular season for the first time since 1997 as Druid Hills (1-1) hosts Lakeside (1-1) at Adams Stadium on Friday night at 7:30 pm.
Both teams are coming off open dates and a last game loss as they head into renewing the series which Lakeside leads 10-0. The last meeting was a 36-2 win by Lakeside. The two teams met in preseason games over the past several years.
Lakeside has a victory over Dunwoody (36-22) and a loss to rival Tucker (48-10) in their last outing. Running back Max Guggemos is the leading rusher for the Vikings with 233 yards and five touchdowns over the first two games while quarterback Will Jernigan has added 148 yards.
Druid Hills knocked of Chamblee (14-13) and fell to Columbia (34-19) two weeks ago. Quarterback Harrison Aiken has passed for 339 yards and four touchdowns in the first two games. Isaiah Dawson (8 receptions, 154 yards, 1 TD) and Nehemiah Brown (6 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TDs) are the go to players for Aiken.
Columbia and Cedar Grove play for the 16th time in their series led by the Saints 9-6. Columbia won the last meeting 22-0 in 2014.
Quarterback Jelani Woods, an Oklahoma State commit, and running back Grant Walker lead the way on offense for the Saints.
Other games in DeKalb County this week include Clarkston (0-3) vs. South Atlanta (0-3) at Hallford (5:15 pm), Miller Grove (2-1) vs. Salem (2-0) at Avondale (7:30 pm) on Friday. Saturday features Arabia Mountain (3-0) hosting Dacula (1-1) at Adams Stadium at 7:30 pm and McNair (2-0) hosting Therrell (1-2) in a 7:30 pm kickoff at Godfrey Stadium.
DCSD Football Week 4 Schedule
Friday, Sept. 9
Clarkston (0-3) vs. South Atlanta (0-3), Hallford, 5:15 pm
Druid Hills (1-1) vs. Lakeside (1-1), Adams, 7:30 pm
Miller Grove (2-1) vs. Salem (2-0), Avondale, 7:30 pm
Columbia (1-2) vs. Cedar Grove (1-1), Godfrey, 7:30 pm
Dunwoody (1-1) vs. North Atlanta (1-1), Grady, 7:30 pm
Stephenson (0-2) vs. SW DeKalb (2-1), Hallford, 8:00 pm
Saturday, Sept. 10
Arabia Mountain (3-0) vs. Dacula (1-1), Adams, 7:30 pm
McNair (2-0) vs. Therrell (1-2), Godfrey, 7:30 pm
OPEN: Chamblee (0-3), Cross Keys (0-1), Lithonia (0-3),
M.L. King (1-2), Redan (1-2), Stone Mountain (1-2), Towers (0-3),
Tucker (2-1)