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By Mark Brock
DCSD Athletics Specialist
The Lithonia Bulldogs went on a 48-point run to pick up a crucial 48-7 Region 5-4A victory over the St. Pius X Golden Lions at Cobb Stadium on Friday night.
St. Pius drove 81 yards on the opening drive with all running plays to take a 7-0 lead on a one-yard run by Nathan Hildreth.
From that point on, the Bulldogs’ defense allowed the Lions (6-3, 4-3) just 31 yards of offense (no passing yard) while the Bulldog offense would score 48 points and ran up 432 yards of offense.
Lithonia (7-1, 5-1) answered the Lions’ opening drive with one of their own going 80 yards in 10 plays led by Albert Gooding with 38 yards rushing. Xavier Butler’s 14-yard run to the St. Pius one-yard line set up his one-yard dive into the end zone with 2:41 left in the first quarter. Zach McCalla tacked on the extra point to knot the game at 7-7.
DeAngelo Peyton recovered a Lions’ fumble at St. Pius 13-yard line on the ensuing kickoff to give the Bulldogs the football in a quick turnaround. Gooding scored two plays later on a one-yard run and McCalla made it 14-7 with 2:05 left in the first quarter and the Bulldogs were off to the races.
After a penalty pushed the Bulldogs back to the 44-yard in the second quarter, Butler went off tackle, broke outside, and outraced the St. Pius defenders 44 yards down the right sideline into the end zone. McCalla was good again to extend the lead to 21-7 with 8:40 left in the first half.
Late in the second quarter Lithonia’s Devis Dean stopped St. Pius quarterback Dexter Mosley short on a fourth down and two play at the Lions’ 24-yard line to give the Bulldogs another short field. Gooding was fed the football on five straight plays and scored on a two-yard run with 3:56 to play in the half. McCalla kicked the extra point through for a 28-7 Bulldog lead.
The Lions then had their longest drive since the opening kickoff moving to the Lithonia 20-yard line before the Bulldogs forced a 37-yard field goal attempt that went wide right just before halftime.
Lithonia continued to shut down the Pius offense in the second half, forcing two punts and recovering two fumbles along the way.
Butler (8 carries, 161 yards, 3 TDs) scored on a 50-yard run in the third quarter, Gooding (27 carries, 166 yards, 3 TDs) added a third touchdown on another one-yard run to the end zone and Jamon Coggins threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Flournoy to complete the scoring. McCalla added two more PATs to finish six of six on the night.
Lithonia travels to Marist next Friday with a home-playoff game on the line against the War Eagles (7-1, 6-0).
Miller Grove 14, South Atlanta 7
The Miller Grove Wolverine’s defense shut down the South Atlanta Hornets’ offense for over three quarters while rallying to a 14-7 Region 6-2A win at Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta on Friday night.
South Atlanta took a 7-0 lead early using a double pass to get into the end zone and put the Wolverines down with most of the game to play.
Touchdown runs by quarterback Thomas Winston IV and running back Frank Johnson propelled the Wolverines into a 14-7 lead.
The defense came up big again by keeping the Hornets out of the end zone as the game wound down late in the fourth quarter. South Atlanta (3-6, 1-2) drove to the Miller Grove 20-yard line with 40 seconds to play when the Wolverines shut door.
Jayden Bowden closed out the game with second of his two sacks on the night to force a turnover on downs. Trey Cloud also had a sack on the defensive stand and three for the game.
The win upped the Wolverines record to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in region play securing a second-place finish and the school’s sixth playoff berth in 21 seasons, the second under Coach Melvin Brown (27-23, five seasons). The seven wins on the season also marks the first time in school history for the Wolverines to win more than six games.
Miller Grove wraps up the regular season with a Region 6-2A game against Salem at Cobb Stadium next Friday night with the opportunity to win a program best eight games.
Tucker 42, North Springs 3
Jace German threw four touchdown passes to lead the Tucker Tigers to a 42-3 Region 5-4A win over the North Springs Spartans at Adams Stadium on Friday night.
German threw two touchdowns to Jayden Joyner (second consecutive week with two touchdown catches) and connected with Christian Ema and Aaron Goode.
German threw for 200 yards while connecting on nine of 12 passes in the win. Tucker (5-3, 4-2) led 35-0 at the half.
Tucker travels across county to take on St. Pius (6-3, 4-3) next Friday night with the opportunity to secure a state playoff berth.
Stephenson 63, Riverdale 20
Tyrell Eldridge returned the opening kickoff 85-yards to kickstart a 63-30 Region 5-3A win by the Stephenson Jaguars over the Riverdale Raiders on Friday night at Hallford Stadium.
Jayden Johnson provided four touchdown runs on carries of eight, 35, 60 and 24 yards as the Jaguars (7-1, 3-1) pulled away for the win over the Raiders (1-7, 0-5).
Stephenson goes on the road to face Luella in Region 5-3A play next week with two key region games remaining including the season finale against region leader Douglass at Hallford on the final week of the season.
Redan 47, Salem 7
Two running backs ran for over 100 yards to propel the Redan Raiders to a 47-7 road win over the Salem Seminoles on Friday night.
Ladamian Stewart ran for 160 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries to lead the way while Fred Johnson ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries to fuel the offensive.
Owen Summers led the defense with three sacks as the Raiders (3-5, 1-1) held the Seminoles (3-5, 0-2) to just one touchdown on the night.
The Raiders had senior night on Friday as they hosted Region 6-2A leader Columbia (2-6, 2-0) at 7:00 pm at Hallford Stadium.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WEEK 10
Thursday, 10/16
Adams Stadium: Stone Mountain (1-8) 45, Cross Keys (0-9) 6
Cobb Stadium: Towers (4-4, 1-3)* 34, Utopian (1-8, 0-5), 0
North DeKalb Stadium: Druid Hills (3-5, 2-4)* 35, Northview (1-6, 1-4) 0
Friday 10/17
Adams Stadium: Tucker (5-3, 4-2)* 42, North Springs (1-8, 1-6) 3
Cobb Stadium: Lithonia (7-1, 5-1)* 48, St. Pius (6-3, 4-3) 7
Godfrey Stadium: Shiloh (4-4, 4-1) 42, Arabia Mountain (2-6, 1-14)* 7
Hallford Stadium: Stephenson (7-1, 3-1)* 63, Riverdale (1-7, 0-5) 20
North DeKalb Stadium: Decatur (3-5, 3-2) 28, Lakeside (3-5, 1-4)*, 7:00 pm
AWAY GAMES
Marist (7-1, 6-0)* 44, Clarkston (0-8, 0-6) 0
Redan (3-5, 1-1) 47, Salem (3-5, 0-2)* 7
Lakewood Stadium (ATL): Miller Grove (7-2, 2-1) 14, South Atlanta (3-6, 1-2) 7
OPEN: Cedar Grove (3-5), Chamblee (3-5), Columbia (2-6), Dunwoody (4-4), M.L. King (7-1), McNair (1-7), SW DeKalb (6-2)
*–Region Game
(SN) – Senior Night
Story and photos by Mark Brock, Athletics Specialist for the DeKalb County School District.