Arabia Mountain’s Silas Butler and his Rams teammates go head-to-head with Southwest DeKalb for top spot in Region 5-5A. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Two DeKalb County rivals line up at 7:30 pm at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night as the Arabia Mountain Rams and Southwest DeKalb Panthers meet with the Region 5-5A lead on the line.
The Rams (6-2, 3-0) are coming off a 42-0 victory over Chamblee last weekend. Heading into that matchup quarterback Bryson Williams had 1,150 yards passing and 12 touchdowns to lead the offense. His favorite target is Silas Butler with 358 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns. Running back Joshua Campbell has 7 touchdowns on 419 yards rushing.
Arabia Mountains defense is by defensive end Demetric Barnes and defensive lineman Thomas Rayton who both had 3 sacks and 4 tackles for a loss heading into last week’s game.
The Panthers (6-2, 3-0) are coming off a tough, last-minute 14-7 victory over the Lithonia Bulldogs last week. Running back Francisco Hunter has rushed for 159 yards or more in five of the eight games this season, including a 202-yard performance against Creekside.
The defense is led by senior linebacker Eris Walker who had 11 tackles for a loss and 1 sack through seven games. Junior defensive end Jaquan Smith had 8 sacks/tackles for a loss and junior defensive tackle Garrison Cole had 10 tackles for a loss through seven games.
The winner of the game has the inside track for the No. 1 playoff seed from Region 5-5A. Arabia Mountain leads the series 2-1 after last season’s 14-7 victory.
M.L. King vs. Stephenson
The No. 8 ranked Stephenson Jaguars and the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions meet for the 12th time on Friday at 8:00 pm at Hallford Stadium in a key Region 4-6A contest for both teams with just two games remaining in the regular season.
Southwest DeKalb’s Francisco Hunter and his Panthers take on Arabia Mountain for supremacy in Region 5-5A. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Stephenson (6-2, 5-0) is tied with Tucker atop the region standings and holds a six-game win streak heading into the contest against the Lions (3-5, 2-3). The Jaguars have allowed just 8 points per game in region play led by senior defensive ends Darius Perry (6 sacks, 13 tackles for loss) and Dionte Gipson (4 sacks, 12 tackles for loss) through the first seven games this season.
Running backs Deondre Jackson (488 yards, 4 TDs), Jevon Goff (293 yards, 2 TDS) and Ryan Ingram (306 yards, 3 TDs) lead the pounding Jaguar rushing attack. Quarterback Darren Parker has run for 5 touchdowns and thrown for two more through seven games.
The Lions are led offensively by running back Marcellius Lockett (384 yards rushing, 3 TDs) through seven games. The defense is led by linebackers JaQwan George (13 tackles for loss) and William Davis (4.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss) and defensive lineman Demarque Johnson (3.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss).
Stephenson leads the series 7-4 having won the 2016 meeting 41-12.
DCSD FOOTBALL WEEK 11 SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 26
Clarkston (1-7) vs. Forest Park (1-8), Tara, 7:00 pm
Friday, Oct. 27
Chamblee (1-7) vs. Columbia (4-4), Adams, 5:15 pm
Miller Grove (4-4) vs. Lithonia (2-6), Hallford, 5:15 pm
Cedar Grove (8-0) vs. McNair (3-5), Avondale, 7:30 pm
Pataula Charter (1-6) vs. Cross Keys (0-5), North DeKalb, 7:30 pm
Druid Hills (1-7) at Woodward (7-1), 7:30 pm
Dunwoody (2-6) at Alpharetta (7-1), 7:30 pm
Lakeside (1-7) at Berkmar (0-9), 7:30 pm
Towers (4-4) at Westminster (3-5), 7:30 pm
Mt. Zion-Jonesboro (1-7) vs. Tucker (7-1), Adams, 7:30 pm
Arabia Mountain (6-2) vs. SW DeKalb (6-2), Godfrey, 7:30 pm
M.L. King (3-5) vs. Stephenson (6-2), Hallford, 8:00 pm
Saturday, Oct. 28
Stone Mountain (1-7) vs. Redan* (2-6), Hallford, 7:30 pm