Tucker defensive back Joziah Horner (6) returns an interception as teammate Leshaun Hudgins (7) comes up to block against Chamblee’s Jazz Lewis (10). (Photo by Mark Brock)
Tucker shutout Chamblee 33-0 at North DeKalb Stadium on Friday night to up their mark to 17-10-1 against the Bulldogs behind a balanced offensive attack and an opportunistic defense.
A big pass lay late in the second quarter got the Tigers (1-1) on the scored board as sophomore quarterback Jace German threw right to receiver Eli French. Ffrench avoided a Bulldog tackler at the line of scrimmage and took off down the right sideline to complete a 67-yard touchdown play. The Bulldogs (0-2) blocked the extra point attempt to keep the deficit at 6-0 with 1:42 left in the first quarter.
Two second quarter scoring opportunities were provided by the Tigers’ defense as they produced a pair of turnovers the Tucker offense turned into touchdowns.
Chamblee stopped the Tigers’ first drive of the second period on the back of two big pass breakups by junior defensive back Zeke Corrado. Corrado knocked away two passes in the left corner of the end zone to prevent Tucker from adding to its 6-0 lead. An incomplete pass on fourth down gave the Bulldogs the football.
Tucker then got the first of its three turnovers in the second quarter as the defense recovered fumble at the Chamblee 17. Three plays later Izayah Worsham extended the lead to 12-0 as he battled his way into the end zone with 6:29 left in the half. The PAT was no good off the left upright.
Four plays later Tucker defensive back Robert Robinson stepped in front of a deep pass for an interception that gave the Tuckers the ball back with 4:49 left in the half.
Tucker running back Christian Copeland got the Tigers headed to the end zone as he broke around the left side for 37-yard gain down to the Chamblee 27. Two plays later Copeland came out of the backfield and caught a toss from German and raced 16 yards into the goal. Ffrench added the PAT to give the Tigers a 19-0 lead.
Joziah Horne gave the Tigers a third turnover of the second quarter as he picked off a pass and returned it to the Chamblee 14-yard line. However, a bad snap turned into a 13-yard loss that would force the Tigers to go for an unsuccessful fourth and 21 attempt.
Chamblee ran out the clock to end the half down 19-0.
Chamblee’s Edward Reed (17) cuts behind the block of lineman William Tate (56) against Tucker’s Izaiah Williams (22) for a short gain. Photo by Mark Brock)
Tucker received a Chamblee punt with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter and turned it into a score when Worsham got outside along the left sideline and outraced the Bulldog defenders into the end zone. Ffrench was good again on the PAT to make it a 26-0 score.
Another scoring drive started at the Tigers’ own 18-yard line with 23 seconds left in the third quarter. The drive would cover 82 yards in 10 plays with Christian Ema capping off the 82-yard drive by going 23 yards around the right end on the way to a 23-yard end around for the score French was good again on the PAT to make it 33-0 with 8:31 left in the game.
Tucker’s Allen Pimentel played a significant role in closing out the game as he had two quarterback sacks, one on each of Chamblee’s last two drives.
Quarterback Jace German threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns on a 15-25 day and added 47 yards rushing to account for 247 yards of Tucker’s 401 on the night. Christian Copeland rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries and had two receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. Tucker ran 61 plays in the game and limited the Bulldogs to just 45 plays and 79 yards of total offense.
Miller Grove 7, Therrell 6
The Miller Grove Wolverines defense has allowed just 13 points in its first two games but had to make a big stand to hold off the Therrell Panthers to salvage their first win of the season with a 7-6 win at Godfrey Stadium on Friday night.
Miller Grove (1-1) lost 21-6 to Druid Hills in a lightning delayed game a week ago as the Red Devils got two defensive scores to rally from a 6-0 deficit.
Therrell and Miller Grove were tied at 0-0 at the half. Miller Grove came out after the break by going up a score on a counter play to Nashaun Porter who went 15 yards for the score. Ahmed Jata added the extra point to make it 7-0 with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.
Therrell threatened in the fourth quarter and pulled within one point (6-7). The Panthers went for the win, but the Wolverines defense held up to that task and stopped the two-point conversion try to preserve the win.
Stephenson 51, Arabia Mountain 21
Leading 25-21 with 3:30 to play in the second quarter, the Stephenson Jaguars scored 26 unanswered points on the way to a 51-21 win over the Arabia Mountain Rams on Friday night at Hallford Stadium.
Big plays played a role along the way including a special teams score in the first quarter when Cavalli Jackson blocked a Rams field goal attempt. Sergio Mason chased down the loose football and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown.
Jackson added a 70-yard touchdown run later and leading 45-21 in the fourth quarter Tyler Little returned a pick-six 50 yards.
The Rams (1-1) had defeated Stephenson 27-21 a year ago for their first ever win over the Jaguars (1-1) after seven consecutive losses.
In other wins for DeKalb teams, Lithonia and McNair picked up wins on Friday night. Lithonia improved to 2-0 on the season by defeating the Redan Raiders 14-8. The Bulldogs held off the Raiders after going up 14-0 in the second quarter before the Raiders scored and added a two-point conversion before the half.
Lithonia has won its first two games of the season for the first time since a 6-5 playoff season in 2018 under the direction of David Edwards. Redan was also the week two victim that season.
McNair improved to 1-1 on the season with a win over KIPP in Atlanta on Friday night.
DCSD FOOTBALL RESULTS – WEEK 2
Thursday, Aug. 22
GODFREY STADIUM
Tri-Cities (1-0) 21, M.L. King (0-2) 19
HENDERSON STADIUM
Midtown (1-1) 26, Druid Hills (1-1) 14
Friday, Aug. 23
ADAMS STADIUM
Landmark Christian (2-0) 44, Cross Keys (0-1) 6
COBB (AVONDALE) STADIUM
Lithonia (2-0) 14, Redan (1-1) 8
GODFREY STADIUM
Miller Grove (1-1) 7, Therrell (0-1) 6
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stephenson (1-1) 51, Arabia Mountain (1-1) 21
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Tucker (1-1) 33, Chamblee (0-2) 0
AWAY GAMES
Temple (2-0) 62, Clarkston (0-2) 8
Carrollton (2-0) 35, Columbia (0-2) 7
Pope (1-1) 41, Dunwoody (1-1) 27
St. Pius (1-1) 17, Lakeside (0-2) 3
McNair (1-1) def. KIPP (1-1) score not reported.
Central Gwinnett (2-0) 27, Stone Mountain (0-2) 0
OPEN: Cedar Grove (0-1), Southwest DeKalb (0-1), Towers (1-0)