More than 20 DeKalb teams set for opening week football games

The 2023 DeKalb County high school football season kicks off Aug. 17 with three teams in action, and 18 more local teams will hit the field in the opening week of Georgia high school football.

Lakeside opens by hosting Berkmar at 7 p.m. on Aug. 17 at Adams Stadium as the Vikings and coach Morris Starr attempt to build on their first winning season (8-2) since 2003. The two teams opened the 2022 season at Berkmar, with the Vikings starting a three-game win streak to open the season following a 20-6 opening night victory.

Coach Frederick Green’s Druid Hills Red Devils finished 4-6 a year ago, after winning three of their last six games, and are vying to get over the .500 mark in 2023. The first step is taking on KIPP Atlanta Collegiate in a 7 p.m. game at Avondale Stadium on Aug. 17. KIPP went 1-8 last season.

The Towers Titans and first-year head coach Henry Garrett play Rutland (Macon) in a 7 p.m. season opener at Godfrey Stadium on Aug. 17. Towers is looking to bounce back from a 0-9-1 season in 2022. Rutland won 15-0 in the opener last fall, and it was one of five shutouts for the Titans.

On Aug. 18, a pair of DeKalb teams take the field at Adams Stadium as the Tucker Tigers entertain the Miller Grove Wolverines. Tucker won the matchup 45-14 behind 281 yards and four touchdowns by returning running back Jordan McCoy in 2022. Miller Grove is looking to break a 0-9 streak against the Tigers.

The McNair Mustangs host Northview at Avondale Stadium in the season opener on Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Northview won a 23-12 decision at home last season, despite the Mustangs holding the Titans scoreless in the second half.

First-year Southwest DeKalb head coach Marion Bell leads his Panthers against South Atlanta at Godfrey Stadium on Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers are coming off a 2-8 season in which the team lost five games by six or fewer points. The two teams play for just the third time and the first since back-to-back wins by the Panthers in 2005 and 2006.

Alcovy travels to Hallford Stadium to take on Lithonia for the second consecutive season on Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Lithonia fell 37-6 in the opener for the two teams last fall.

Dunwoody hosts North Springs at North DeKalb Stadium on Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the season opener for both squads. The Wildcats are 4-2 against North Springs and won the past three meetings, including last year’s 21-9 victory on the road.

Arabia Mountain (at Maynard Jackson), Chamblee (at South Cobb), Columbia (at Camden Co.), Cross Keys (at Walker), Decatur (at Flowery Branch), Marist (at Gainesville), M.L. King (at Duluth), Redan (at Central Carrollton), St. Pius X Catholic (at Dacula), and Stone Mountain (at Chapel Hill) are all on the road on Aug. 18.

A pair of DeKalb teams will also travel to Morehouse College for games on Aug. 19 as Class 3A No. 1 ranked Cedar Grove plays Dutchtown at 8 p.m. and Stephenson opens against Lithia Springs at 2 p.m.

The full schedule for all DeKalb teams in week one is listed below:

 

Aug. 17
Adams Stadium
Berkmar (0-0) vs. Lakeside (0-0), 7 p.m.

Avondale Stadium
KIPP Academy (0-0) vs. Druid Hills (0-0), 7 p.m.

Godfrey Stadium
Rutland (0-0) vs. Towers (0-0), 7 p.m.

 

Aug. 18
Adams Stadium
Miller Grove (0-0) vs. Tucker (0-0), 7:30 p.m.

Avondale Stadium
Northview (0-0) vs. McNair (0-0), 7:30 p.m.

Godfrey Stadium
South Atlanta (0-0) vs. SW DeKalb (0-0), 7:30 p.m.

Hallford Stadium
Alcovy (0-0) vs. Lithonia (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
North DeKalb Stadium
North Springs (0-0) vs. Dunwoody (0-0), 7:30 p.m.

 

Away games

Arabia Mountain (0-0) vs. Maynard Jackson (0-0), Henderson, 7:30 p.m.
Chamblee (0-0) at South Cobb (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Columbia (0-0) at Camden Co. (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Cross Keys (0-0) at Walker (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Decatur (0-0) at Flowery Branch (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Marist (0-0) at Gainesville (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
M.L. King (0-0) at Duluth (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Redan (0-0) at Central-Carrollton (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
St. Pius X Catholic (0-0) at Dacula (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Stone Mountain (0-0) at Chapel Hill (0-0), 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 19
Morehouse College
Stephenson (0-0) vs. Lithia Springs (0-0), 2 p.m.
Cedar Grove (0-0) vs. Dutchtown (0-0), 8 p.m.

 

The Champion Editor Jay Phillips contributed to this article.