Cedar Grove running back Grant Walker (6) runs against SW DeKalb. Walker and the No. 3 ranked Saints take on No. 7 Lovett on Friday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Region 5-3A begins regional play this weekend with the No. 3 ranked Cedar Grove Saints traveling to take on the No. 7 Lovett Lions at 7:30 pm on Friday.
Both teams enter the game at 2-1 with a 1-0 start in region play on the line and have not played since 1997, a 14-7 victory by Cedar Grove.
The Saints rebounded from a second week 21-20 loss to Southwest DeKalb as a last second field goal went wide with a 40-0 shutout victory against the Columbia Eagles last weekend.
Oklahoma State commit Jelani Woods triggers the offense from his quarterback position and is hitting on 72 percent of his passes (31-43) for 378 yards and four touchdowns along with 68 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Sophomore receiver Jadon Haselwood is Woods’ go-to guy in the passing game as he has collected 11 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Grant Walker (41 carries, 270 yards, 3 TDs) leads the Saints’ ground attack.
Defensive end DeAngelo Malone is the leader on defense for the Saints with nine tackles for a loss in the first two games of the season along with three sacks and 24 total tackles.
The Lions have a two overtime victory over Marist and a 34-6 victory over BEST after dropping a season opening 31-6 decision to Greater Atlanta Christian.
Senior quarterback Brady Tindall leads the Lion offense accounting for 498 yards passing (43 of 72) and four touchdowns and 219 yards rushing and 5 more touchdowns. Tindall’s big target is sophomore receiver KJ Wallace (14 receptions, 197 yards, 1 TD).
Other Region 5-3A games involving DeKalb County squads include Redan (1-2) and exciting playmaker Cori Pritchett hosting Westminster (1-2) at Hallford, Stone Mountain (1-2) and DCSD leading rusher Larry Brooks traveling to take on Pace (2-1) on Friday.
McNair (2-1) hosts Towers (0-3) in a 5-3A contest on Saturday at 7:30 pm on the field at Godfrey Stadium for the Mustangs’ homecoming.
Region 4-6A opens play on Thursday as Martin Luther King Jr. (1-2) travels to 12 Oaks Stadium for a 7:00 pm kickoff against Mundy’s Mill (0-3). Stephenson (2-1) travels to 12 Oaks on Friday at 7:30 pm to take on Lovejoy (1-3) and No. 10 ranked Tucker (2-1) takes on Jonesboro (0-4) in a 7:30 pm contest at Tara Stadium.
Will Jernigan (with ball) runs behind several blockers vs. Dunwoody. Jernigan and the Vikings are looking to knock off the Miller Grove Wolverines on Friday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Miller Grove (2-2) and Lakeside (2-1) meet for the ninth time on Friday night at Adams Stadium with kickoff set for 7:30 pm in a non-region meeting.
Miller Grove leads the series 2-6 and won the last matchup 33-20 in 2013.
The Wolverines’ running back duo of freshman Deondre Jackson (371 yards, 2 TDs) and senior Roderick Harper (324 yards, 3 TDs) gives Miller Grove a dual threat on the ground.
Junior quarterback Darren Parker had thrown for 277 yards and five touchdowns with senior receiver Ezekio Gouch (12 receptions, 159 yards, 4 TDs) his main target.
Lakeside counters with a dual threat of its on rushing the football in junior Max Guggemos (292 yards, 5 TDs) and Will Jernigan (277 yards, 3 TDs). Junior Matthew Holt was a big factor in the Vikings’ win over Druid Hills last week as he came in and threw for 158 yards and three touchdowns.
DeMonte Pressley does most of the damage as a receiver with 9 receptions, 194 yards and 2 touchdowns in three games.
DCSD FOOTBALL WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 15
M.L. King (2-1) vs. Mundy’s Mill (0-3), Twelve Oaks, 7:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 16
Cedar Grove (2-1) at Lovett (2-1), 7:30 pm
Chamblee (0-3) at Salem (3-0), 7:30 pm
Clarkston (0-4) vs. Druid Hills (1-2), North DeKalb, 7:30 pm
Lakeside (2-1) vs. Miller Grove (2-2), Adams, 7:30 pm
Lithonia (0-3) vs. Meadowcreek (0-3), Godfrey, 7:30 pm
Redan (1-2) vs. Westminster (1-2), Hallford, 7:30 pm
Stephenson (1-2) vs. Lovejoy (1-3), Twelve Oaks, 7:30 pm
Stone Mountain (1-2) at Pace (2-1), 7:30 pm
Tucker (2-1) vs. Jonesboro (0-4), Tara, 7:30 pm
Saturday, Sept. 17
McNair (2-1) (HC) vs. Towers (0-3), Godfrey, 7:30 pm
OPEN: Arabia Mountain (4-0), Columbia (0-4), Cross Keys (0-1), Dunwoody (2-1), SW DeKalb (2-2)
(HC) — Homecoming