DeKalb teams set to play big games with star athletes

DeKalb County football teams are coming off a season that saw a state championship appearance, a dominant NFL Draft showing, and had more than 50 athletes sign college scholarships on National Signing Day, and the big games and star athletes won’t stop in 2023.

The games to watch for DeKalb teams will start during opening week on Aug. 18 and continue until the regular season finales on Nov. 3, with playoffs games scheduled to occur after that. Below are several highlighted games from the complete DeKalb schedule that can be found at dekalbschoolsga.org/athletics or on maxpreps.com.

• Dutchtown vs. Cedar Grove, Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. at Morehouse College
  • Dutchtown went 12-2 in 2022 and lost in the semifinals of the 5A state playoffs to undefeated—and soon-to-be state champion—Ware County. Only one DeKalb team played Dutchtown last season, with Stephenson losing its season opener 24-13 against the Dutchtown Bulldogs. Cedar Grove made it to the state championship before losing in part due to a bad call. The Saints return their running back and quarterback duo from last year and have stacked up on talent once again.
• Tucker vs. Miller Grove, Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Adams Stadium
  • Tucker and Miller Grove will kick things off for intercounty play when the two play at Adams Stadium. Tucker opened the season with a 45-14 win over Miller Grove last season, before finishing at 4-7. Both teams will look for more wins, as Miller Grove finished 4-6.
• Chamblee vs. Dunwoody, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at North DeKalb Stadium
  • The Chamblee and Dunwoody rivalry has taken a new turn in recent years, with Chamblee winning the last three games. However, Dunwoody finished last season at 5-5, the best regular season record for the Wildcats since 2010.
• Pius vs. Parkview, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Parkview
  • Pius will attempt to build off its first season in 6A ball with a tough opening season stretch, which includes a road trip to Parkview. The St. Pius Golden Lions will be tasked with defending one of the most talented teams in the state, which is headlined by Parkview’s five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews.
• Cedar Grove vs. Colquitt County, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Colquitt County Stadium
  • Another game featuring top talent will be a rematch between Cedar Grove and Colquitt County. Like Cedar Grove, Colquitt County is loaded with talent. Five-star tight end Landen Thomas leads the way for Colquitt and is joined by UGA commit Ny Carr at Colquitt.
• Columbia vs. Redan, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Avondale Stadium
  • Columbia only has two home games scheduled at press time, but the Eagles are bound to have some fun games being led by Arkansas commit Jadan Baugh and others.
• Lakeside vs. Stone Mountain, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Adams Stadium
  • Lakeside is coming off its most successful season since 2003, going 8-2 last season and will look to find more positive momentum in another non-region schedule this year. The Lakeside Vikings lost some talent this offseason, but the team has improved its win total in each of the last three seasons.
• Southwest DeKalb vs. Stephenson, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Godfrey Stadium
  • Southwest DeKalb will end its first regular season under new head coach Marion Bell against the Stephenson Jaguars. Stephenson won last year’s regular season finale with the Panthers 42-13, which propelled the Jaguars to a 40-38 playoff win over Pace Academy.

Players to Watch

• Devin Ingram – Stephenson running back
  • Ingram will be in his senior season at Stephenson, following a junior season that saw him lead DeKalb in rushing yards and win a statewide player-of-the-week award – the only one for DeKalb County last season. Ingram had 1,264 rushing yards on 175 attempts last season and scored 16 rushing touchdowns.
• Daemon Jones, Redan quarterback
  • Jones burst onto the scene as a sophomore quarterback for Redan last season, finishing the season in fourth place among DeKalb athletes in passing yards. He had 1,549 yards and 13 touchdowns. Ralph Holt, who had 348 receiving yards, will also return for the Raiders for first year head coach Damien Weems.
• Jordan McCoy, Tucker running back
  • McCoy only played in eight games last season, but he was still third in DeKalb in rushing yards 1,150 yards and 14 touchdowns. McCoy also averaged 7.8 yards per carry for the Tigers last season. On the other end of the field, Tucker will be led by Georgia Tech commit and defensive lineman C.J. Jackson. Jackson was fifth in the county in sacks last season.
• Jadan Baugh, Columbia wide receiver
  • Baugh is in the top three of returning DeKalb receivers and another player already committed to his college of choice in Arkansas. Baugh had 461 receiving yards and caught nine touchdowns in just nine games last season.
• Isaiah Scott, Southwest DeKalb linebacker
  • Scott was top 10 in DeKalb in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss last season and then was named a wrestling All-American a few months later. New head coach Marion Bell raved about Scott’s ability and coachability at media day before the season.
• Luke Harping, Marist tight end
  • Harping plays both defensive end and tight end for Marist and is another talented prospect for the Golden Eagles, which recently had the program’s first-ever first-round draft pick. The Marist athlete will lead the Golden Eagles against a tough schedule, which begins on Aug. 18 at Gainesville.
• Cedar Grove’s backfield
  • Returning from a season where they led Cedar Grove to another state championship appearance will be Cedar Grove’s three-headed monster in the backfield. Quarterback Elliot Colson led DeKalb in passing yards and passing touchdowns as a sophomore last season, while running backs Boden Walker and Demarcus Smith were both top 11 in rushing yards and as sophomores last season. The Saints will have plenty of talent across the field, but those three guarantee a fun atmosphere on most nights.