Miller Grove opens Region 6-2A Play with 41-6 victory over Redan

 By Mark Brock DCSD Athletics Specialist

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–Thomas Winston IV threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Miller Grove Wolverines to a 41-6 Region 6-2A over the Redan Raiders for homecoming at Godfrey Stadium on Thursday night (Oct. 3).

Both teams were playing in their region opener and battled to a 0-0 after one-quarter of play with the Wolverines driving at the Redan 13 and facing a third down and six as the second quarter opened.

Winston threw over the middle to Candler Adams for the 13-yard scoring pass with 11:54 left in the period. Ahmed Jatta tacked on the pointer after for a 7-0 lead.

Three possessions later the Wolverines (4-3, 1-0) forced the Raiders (2-5, 0-1) into a punting situation from their own 22. A high snap was hard for punter Fereud McKnukle to field cleanly and Miller Grove’s Dominick Jackson tackled him at the Raider two-yard line.

It took just one play for the Wolverines to score as Nashuan Porter took the ball left, cut back inside and with a second effort after being hit at the one he got into the end zone. Jatta’s PAT made it 14-0.

Miller Grove needed another big defensive stand just before half as Dameon Jones led the Raiders to the Wolverines one-yard line as he escaped for a 26-yard run. Four plays later the Wolverines forced an incomplete pass and took the 14-0 lead into the half.

The Wolverines scored on the opening possession of the second half as Winston threw to the middle of the end zone for a 29-yard TD connection to Kenneth Gladden Jr. with 10:30 left in the quarter to extend the lead. Jatta kicked the ball through for the PAT and a 21-0 Miller Grove lead.

Redan found some life via a 68-yard touchdown pass play from Jones to Demarion Cannady down the left sideline to answer the last Wolverines score. The point after play was no good as the lead remained 21-6 with 9:21 remaining in the quarter.

The Raiders held the Wolverines to get the ball back drove to the Miller Grove 11 where on third and four Robert Thompkins stepped in front of a pass for an interception.

A 42-yard run by Porter set up another Winston touchdown pass as he threw over the middle to the end zone again for a 24-yard hook up with Jayden Frazier for the score. Jatta’s PAT made it 27-6.

Miller Grove got another turnover early in the fourth quarter as Zakih Cámara had the strip sack and Leonard Young recovered at the Redan 48. Porter did the work carrying the rock rushing five times for 40 yards in the drive, including the final six yards on a toss sweep for the score. Jatta hit the PAT to make it 34-6 with 7:39 to play.

The Wolverines closed out the scoring as a Jarius Goldwire 32-yard run to the Redan one-yard line set up Winston’s rushing touchdown. Winston recovered from a bobbled snap and went around the right end to the corner of the end zone for the final touchdown of the game. Jatta upped the lead to 41-6 with just 4:44 to play.

Winston finished the night with 110 yards passing as he hit on eight of 14 along with three touchdowns passing to go with the one rushing. Porter carried the ball 25 times for 143 yards and his two touchdowns. Redan quarterback Dameon Jones threw for 116 yards and the one touchdown and added 58 yards rushing for the Raiders.

Columbia 56, South Atlanta 15

The Columbia Eagles won their first game of the year going away in a 56-15 Regin 6-2A win on the road at Lakewood Stadium over the South Atlanta Hornets.

Quarterback Cameron Graves had a monster game as he ran for four touchdowns and threw for two more in the win. Nishan Hillman added big night running the football for the Eagles who improved to 1-6 overall and 1-0 in region play.

DCSD FOOTBALL WEEK 8 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:

Thursday, Oct. 3

ADAMS STADIUM

Creekside Christian (3-3) 33, Cross Keys (0-5) 6

GODFREY STADIUM

Miller Grove (4-3, 1-0)* 41, Redan (2-5, 0-1) 6

HALLFORD STADIUM

St. Pius X (6-1, 5-0) 42, Clarkston (0-6, 0-4)* 0

AWAY GAME

LAKEWOOD STADIUM

Columbia (1-6, 1-0)* 56, South Atlanta (2-5, 0-1) 15

Friday, Oct. 4

ADAMS STADIUM

Tucker (4-1, 3-0) vs. Druid Hills (2-4, 1-3)*, 7:30 pm

COBB STADIUM

Midtown (2-3, 1-1) vs. M.L. King (1-4, 0-2)*, 7:30 pm

HALLFORD STADIUM

Lithonia (4-1, 2-1) vs. SW DeKalb (3-3, 2-2)* (HC), 7:30 pm

NORTH DEKALB STADIUM

Arabia Mountain (1-5, 0-3) vs. Dunwoody (1-5, 0-3), 7:30 pm

AWAY GAMES

McNair (2-4, 0-2)* vs. Jasper Co. (4-1, 1-0), 7:30 pm

TARA STADIUM

Stone Mountain (0-5) at Mt. Zion (3-2), 7:30 pm

Saturday, Oct. 5

COBB STADIUM

Lamar Co. (4-1, 1-0) vs. Towers (2-2, 0-1), 2:00 pm

GODFREY STADIUM

Stephenson (3-3, 1-1) vs. Cedar Grove (1-4, 1-1)* (HC), 2:00 pm

NORTH DEKALB STADUIM

Lakeside (4-2, 3-0) vs. Chamblee (0-5, 0-2)* (HC), 2:00 pm

*–Region Game

(HC) — Homecoming

Story and photos by Mark Brock, Athletics Specialist for Media Relations with the DeKalb County School District.