Stephenson wins nightcap against Southwest DeKalb
The second half shutout of the Southwest DeKalb Panthers propelled the Class 4 No. 4 ranked Stephenson Jaguars to a 29-7 win in the nightcap of the DeKalb County High School Football Kickoff Classic on Aug. 22 at Hallford Stadium.
Southwest DeKalb made it game before halftime. After trailing 14-0 for most of the half, the Panthers scored on a 17-yard run by quarterback Braylon Carter. Carter dropped back and then took off up the middle on the draw before darting out to the left to outrun the Stephenson defenders into the end zone. Kelvin Saturday hit the extra point to pull the Panthers within 14-7 before the half ended.
Southwest looked to continue the momentum in the second half marching to the Stephenson 40, but a tackled for a loss by Jeremiah Hill helped force the Panthers into a fourth down and eight at the 40. Carter picked up six of the yards but fell two yards short.
Stephenson ran tight end Xe’Vien Brinson on an end around for a gain of 20 to open the drive. Several plays later, Zabrian Boler threw to the right corner of the end zone where Noah Mahoney out-maneuvered his defender by turning to catch it as he was falling. A two-point conversion was good to extend the Jaguars’ lead to 22-7 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
After the defense caused a turnover, the Jaguars began an 11-play, 75-yard drive led by Jayden Johnson’s seven carries for 54 yards to set up a fourth and one at the Panther one-yard line. Boler tossed a pass over the line to Kruz Marion for the touchdown with 6:51 to play to make it a 29-7 margin in favor of the Jaguars.
For the second time in the fourth quarter, the Stephenson Jaguars’ defense forced Southwest DeKalb to turn the ball over on downs, this time at the Southwest 46-yard line with a tackle for a loss by Kaiden Gooden. Stephenson ran five plays to run out the clock and seal the 28-7 win over their county rivals.
The Jaguars got a 62-yard kickoff return to by Jordan Walker to open the game and set up Stephenson in business at the Southwest 34-yard line. Nine plays later, Johnson blasted in from 10 yards out to give the Jaguars the lead for good.
A sack by highly recruited edge KJ Green (9-yard loss) ensured the Panthers would punt from their own end zone. Walker returned the punt 14 yards to the Southwest DeKalb 36-yard line. Six plays later, the Jaguars found the end zone for the second time in the game as Terrance Woodfin bulled in from five yards out for the team’s second touchdown
The two defenses forced two punts, a turnover on downs, and interception by Southwest DeKalb’s Myson Perry until the Panther’s started their second quarter scoring drive.
Boler (two touchdowns) and Johnson (25 carries, 129 yards, one touchdown) were named co-Offensive Players of the game. Green was named Defensive Player of the game after having an early sack and a big fourth down stop to make the Panthers turn the ball over on downs.
