DeKalb schools clinch playoffs spot, prepare for regular season finales
Region 4-5A wins by football teams from Arabia Mountain and Tucker high schools on Oct. 28 clinched class 5A state playoff berths and set up a Nov. 3 showdown between Arabia Mountain and Tucker at Godfrey Stadium for the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.
The Arabia Mountain Rams (4-5, 2-2) knocked off Martin Luther King (2-7, 1-3) 27-0 to clinch its first playoff spot since 2020.
Julian Shanks got the Rams on the board in the first quarter with a 19-yard pass to Kenneth Hollinger for the score. The Rams took the 7-0 into the third quarter before extending it to 14-0 on a 36-yard touchdown run by Shanks.
The lead was pushed to 20-0 as Shanks threw an eight-yard strike to Jordan Miller. Arabia Mountain added a final touchdown in the fourth quarter to make the final of 27-0.
Arabia Mountain’s defense was led by Daniel Turpin (four tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss) and Malcolm Snipes (five tackles, one interception). The Rams held the Lions to just 17 yards of total offense.
Tucker 44, Lithonia 12
Trailing 6-2 with 6:35 to play in the first quarter, the Tucker Tigers (4-5, 2-2) scored 28 consecutive points on the way to a 44-12 region 4-5A victory over the Lithonia Bulldogs (0-9, 0-4) on Oct. 29 at Hallford Stadium.
Jordan McCoy was a catalyst for the Tigers offense – rushing for 192 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries. He also added three receptions for 53 yards. Quarterback Jamar Graham threw for 113 yards and had touchdown throws to Evan Ffrench and Christian Whitmore.
Ffrench was 6-6 on extra points, and Izayah Horsham got a safety to add to the point total.
Stone Mountain 22, Midtown 0
The Stone Mountain Pirates (3-6) picked up their third win of the season with a 22-0 shutout of the Midtown Knights on Oct. 29 at Henderson Stadium in Atlanta.
Stone Mountain’s defense picked off five Midtown passes —including three by Stone Mountain defensive back Nate Simmons and one each by Ed Simmons and Jeremiah Leslie. The Pirates limited Midtown to four first downs in the game.
Antonio Hardge caught a touchdown pass from Cameron Graves for the opening score. Graves would run for two touchdowns to account for the 22-0 win.
Riverwood 40, Dunwoody 33
The Dunwoody Wildcats (5-4, 1-3) succumbed to a late rally to fall 40-33 to Riverwood while the Wildcats played with an injury plagued roster. The loss also dealt a blow to Dunwoody’s playoff hopes.
Dunwoody backup quarterback Matt Pearch helped the Wildcats build 33-19 lead as he threw three touchdown passes – two to Mason Weeks (four receptions, 93 yards) and one to Rocco Sinisgali.
Riverwood would score three fourth quarter touchdowns to rally to the 40-33 win.
Jordan Wade finished with 15 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown for the Dunwoody Wildcats. The Wildcats need a win against North Atlanta on Nov. 4 to get into the playoffs.
Lakeside 24, Druid Hills 0
The Lakeside Vikings moved to seven wins on the season for the first time since 1997 with a 24-0 shutout of the Druid Hills Red Devils at Adams Stadium.
Running back Jean-Luc Noison scored two touchdowns while rushing 18 times for 116 yards, and quarterback Kyle Davis added another touchdown.
Luke Chilton returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown to increase a 10-0 Vikings lead to 17-0 in the third quarter. Jay Hanson finished a perfect on extra point attempts and hit a 29-yard field goal.
Week 11 football results are posted below, with an asterisk making region games:
Oct. 27
Adams Staidum
Notre Dame (4-6) 39, Cross Keys (0-8) 6
Hallford Stadium
Clarkston (2-7) 8, Johnson-Gainesville (0-9) 6
Away game
Hapeville (2-7, 2-2)* 30, Miller Grove (3-6, 1-3) 7
Oct. 28
Adams Stadium
Lakeside (7-2) 24, Druid Hills (4-5) 0
Avondale Stadium
Callaway (6-3, 5-0) 49, McNair (4-5, 2-3)* 6
Godfrey Stadium
Arabia Mountain (4-5, 2-2) 27, M.L. King (2-7, 1-3) 0
Hallford Stadium
Tucker (4-5, 2-2) 44, Lithonia (0-9, 0-4) 12
North DeKalb Stadium
Decatur (5-4, 4-0) 40, Chamblee (6-2, 3-1) 38
On campus games
Marist (7-2)* 30, St. Pius X Catholic (4-5) 27
Away games
Riverwood (2-7, 2-2)* 40, Dunwoody (5-4, 1-3) 33
Landmark Christian (5-4, 3-2)* 45, Redan (2-8, 1-5) 12
Holy Innocents (6-3, 3-1)* 42, Stephenson (5-3, 3-1) 14
Stone Mountain (3-6) 22, Midtown (5-4) 0
Westminster (6-3, 3-1)* 27, Southwest DeKalb (2-7, 0-4) 21
Eagles Landing Christian (5-4, 4-1)* 85, Towers (0-8-1, 0-3) 0
