Druid Hills’ running back Zach Manning (with ball) slips past Miller Grove defensive lineman Marlon McClean (41) for a short gain. Manning would have a game-clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 21-6 win by the Red Devils. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Druid Hills Red Devils defense came up big following a 1 ½ hour lightning delay to spur a big 21-6 comeback win over the Miller Grove Wolverines to open the season at Adams Stadium on Friday night.
Miller Grove was leading 6-0 on a 15-yard touchdown run in the first quarter by Nashuan Porter when the game was halted due to lightning in the area with 5:43 to play in the third quarter.
The game resumed with the Red Devils (1-0) facing a second and 15 on their own 26-yard line. The Wolverines (0-1) defense held to force a punt.
Druid Hills’ defense then came up big as Dante Smith returned a fumble 30-yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 6-6 late in the third quarter. Zach Manning ran in the two-point conversion to give Druid Hills the lead for good at 8-6.
Another big defensive play came early in the fourth quarter as Niko Brown had a 60-yard pick-six to extend the lead to 14-6. Miller Grove blocked the PAT.
The Red Devils forced a three-and-out on Miller Grove’s next possession and turned it into a 32-yard touchdown run by Manning. Wyatt Bennett hit the PAT to make the final of 21-6.
Xavier Norris had a big sack late in the fourth quarter to close out the game for the Red Devils.
Miller Grove’s Nashuan Porter (6) crosses the goal line for a first quarter touchdown for the Wolverines. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Druid Hills’ defense held Miller Grove to 175 yards of offense.
Redan 44, Stone Mountain 0
Senior quarterback Dameon Jones threw three touchdown passes and the Redan Raider defense shut down the Stone Mountain Pirates on the way to a 44-0 win at Cobb Stadium on Friday night.
Jones connected for 32 yards to Fereud McKnuckle, 74 yards to Jared Broyard and 23 yards to Jordan Francis. Jones hit on 13 of 16 passes for 173 yards as the Raiders piled up 350 yards of total offense.
Junior defensive lineman Martevias Burse led the Raider defense picking up three tackles for a loss and sack on the night.
Lithonia 31, Lithia Springs 28
The Lithonia Bulldogs ended a seven-game losing streak going back to last season with a big 31-28 road win over Lithia Springs on Friday night to open the season with a victory.
Jarmon Coggins put together a big night hitting on 11 of 18 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns in the game. He opened on the first possession connecting with Armani Michael for 64 yards and later in the quarter hooked up with Anthony Flournoy for a 41-yard scoring play.
Kaden Miller accounted for the other two touchdowns in the second quarter with catches of 18 yards and 78 yards from Coggins. Zachary McCalla added a 26-yard field goal as the Bulldogs took the 31-28 lead into the half.
The Bulldogs defense came up big with six fumble recoveries, four in the second half, to help Lithonia hold on for the win Zachariah Ramsey, Jonathan Little, Josias Dore and Tyrick Williams accounted for the four second half recoveries.
Running back Albert Gooding added 31 carries for 136 yards on the ground for the Bulldogs.
Towers 54, Heritage (Newnan) 7
The Towers Titans scored in all phases of the game on Friday night to roll to a 54-7 road victory over Heritage (Newnan) to open their season on Friday night.
Senior running back Neroy Tugwell got the Titans rolling with touchdown runs of one-yard and 38 yards, plus a two-point conversion for a 16-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Quaricus Hurley, who also had a 40-yard touchdown run, added a two-point conversion on the first touchdown.
Tramon Wooten added a punt return with Hurley adding the two-point conversion to make it 24-7 in the second quarter. The defensive got in the scoring next as senior defensive Jacquez Harris returned a fumble 50 yards for another score. Amari Morgan added the two-point conversion to make it 32-7.
Jaylin Battle and Jamel Hector also put touchdowns on the board.
Game Postponed
One DeKalb game was postponed with six minutes to go in the third quarter as the Stephenson Jaguars were trailing 16-6 to Mays at Morrow on Friday night. The game is set to resume at 5:30 pm on Monday (Aug. 19) at Hallford Stadium where they will play the final 18 minutes of the game.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WEEK 1
Thursday, Aug. 15
Neutral – West Forsyth
Dunwoody (1-0) 24, South Paulding (0-1) 7
AWAY GAMES
Arabia Mountain (1-0) 61, Alcovy (0-1) 33
Cartersville (1-0) 40, Columbia (0-1) 0
Friday, Aug. 16
ADAMS STADIUM
Druid Hills (1-0) 21, Miller Grove 6
GODFREY STADIUM
Temple (1-0) 23, McNair (0-1) 6
COBB (AVONDALE) STADIUM
Redan (1-0) 44, Stone Mountain (0-1) 0
AWAY GAMES
Heard Co. (1-0) 62, Clarkston (0-1) 0
Berkmar 6, Lakeside 0 (stopped early)
Lithonia (1-0) 31, Lithia Springs (0-1) 28
Heritage (Conyers) (0-1) 15, M.L. King (0-1) 14
Towers (1-0) 54, Heritage (Newnan) (0-1) 7
Valdosta (1-0) 65, Tucker (0-1) 19
LAKEWOOD STADIUM – ATL
Carver (1-0) 34, Southwest DeKalb (0-1) 21
RIVERVIEW SPORTSPLEX
Pace Academy (1-0) 10, Chamblee (0-1) 9
Saturday, Aug. 17
MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM
Douglas Co. (1-0) 41, Cedar Grove (0-1) 7
Monday, Aug. 19
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stephenson vs. Mays, 5:30 pm (resume 3rd qtr)