Cedar Grove hosts Sandy Creek in State championship rematch

By Mark Brock

DCSD Athletics Specialist

DEKALB COUTY, GA–The No. 3 Cedar Grove Saints play one of several key region matchups this weekend for DeKalb football programs as they host the No. 7 ranked Sandy Creek Patriots in a rematch of the controversial 2022 Class 3A state title game at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Hallford Stadium.

Cedar Grove (3-5, 1-0) had beaten Sandy Creek (6-2, 1-0) 49-34 in the 2022 regular season to win the Region 5-3A title, but a hard-fought defensive battle came down to the end in the Class 3A state title game at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium. Cedar Grove appeared to stop a Sandy Creek running back short of the goal line late in the fourth quarter, but the Patriots were awarded a touchdown and held on to win 21-17.

Sandy Creek holds a 2-1 advantage in a series that just began two years ago when the teams were paired in Region 5-3A. The Saints have played four Georgia Class 7A teams (1-3) and large classifications schools from Florida and Alabama going 0-2. Cedar Grove opened region play with a 41-0 shutout victory over the Douglass Astros (5-3) last week led by quarterback EJ Colson who became just the 17^th DeKalb player to pass for over 2,000 yards (44,663 yards, 59 TDS) and 1,000 yards rushing (1,037, 19 TDs).

Sandy Creek is coming off a 20-15 win over Carver-Atlanta (2-5) last week to open region play at 1-0.

Region 4-5A resumes play after a week off with two key games set for DeKalb stadiums beginning on Thursday with Martin Luther King (2-5, 1-1) hosting region co-leader Tucker (4-3, 2-0) in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Godfrey Stadium.

The Lions are vying to get one of the four state playoff berths and the Tigers want to keep on track for the No. 1 seed and a home playoff date.

Friday has 4-5A co-leader Arabia Mountain (6-1, 2-0) traveling to North DeKalb Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. homecoming tilt with the Chamblee Bulldogs (3-4, 1-1) as the Rams try to stay on a collision course with Tucker for the top spot in a game set for the final week of the regular season.

The Columbia Eagles (5-3, 3-1) are having senior night as they host the Redan Raiders (2-6, 2-2) in a 7:30 p.m.game on Friday at Godfrey Stadium as they look to stay locked into the No. 2 seed in Region 5-2A. Redan is playing to solidify a playoff spot. Columbia is led by Jadan Baugh who became just the fourth DeKalb player to rush for over 1,000 yards (1,289, 16 TD) and over 1,000 yards receiving (1,547, 15 TDs) in his career.

The Dunwoody Wildcats (6-1, 1-1) head over to South Cobb (0-7, 0-2) to move closer to a state playoff berth coming off the first win over St. Pius (21-0) since the 2008 season which is the last time they made the playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7:30 in the Region 4-6A meeting.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 10

Thursday, Oct. 19

GODFREY STADIUM

Tucker (4-3) vs. M.L. King (2-5)*, 7:00 pm

Friday, Oct. 20

ADAMS STADIUM

Stone Mountain (1-6) vs. Lakeside (3-4)(SN), 7:30 p.m.

AVONDALE STADIUM

Johnson-Gainesville (3-4) vs. Druid Hills (5-1-1)(HC), 7:30 p.m.

GODFREY STADIUM

Redan (2-6) vs. Columbia (5-3)* (SN), 7:30 p.m.

HALLFORD STADIUM

Sandy Creek (6-2) vs. Cedar Grove (3-5)* (SN), 7:30 p.m.

NORTH DEKALB STADIUM

Arabia Mountain (6-1) vs. Chamblee (3-5)*(HC), 7:30 p.m.

AWAY GAMES

HENDRSON STADIUM – Atlanta

Clarkston (1-6) vs. Midtown (2-5), 7:30 p.m.

Cross Keys (0-7) at Seckinger (2-6), 7:30 p.m.

Dunwoody (6-1) at South Cobb (0-7)*, 7:30 p.m.

Lithonia (1-6) at Decatur (2-5)*, 7:30 p.m.

Towers (0-7) at Landmark Christian (0-7)*, 7 p.m.

OPEN: McNair (4-4), Miller Grove (5-3), SW DeKalb (2-6), Stephenson (6-2) 

*–Region Game; (HC) – Homecoming; (SN) Senior Night

Story and photo by Mark Brock, Athletics Specialist DeKalb County School District (DCSD)