Jamon Coggins threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Lithonia Bulldogs to a 36-0 win over the Redan Raiders in rain-delayed high school football game at Cobb Stadium on Friday night, Aug. 22.
The Bulldog defense was also key in helping Lithonia move to 2-0 on the season with seven tackles for a loss or no gain in the first half, while limiting the Raiders to minus three yards rushing and just 37 yards of offense. The defense added two interceptions, and special teams got a safety and a blocked punt in the 36-0 first half.
Lithonia scored nine points in just over a minute of play following a short punt and personal foul on the Raiders early in the first quarter. Taking over at the Redan 12, the Bulldogs needed three plays to score with Albert Gooding going the final five yards for the opening touchdown with 9:02 left in the quarter. Zachary McCalla hit the Point After Touchdown to make it 7-0.
Lithonia forced a three and out by the Raiders that led to a safety at the 8:02 mark of the first quarter. Redan was set up to punt, but a bad snap ended up in the end zone recovered by the Raiders for the safety and a 9-0 lead for the Bulldogs.
The lead ballooned to 16-0 when Xavier “Deuce” Butler struck for a 70-yard pick-six with 1:29 remaining in the opening period. McCalla tacked on the PAT.
Early in the third quarter, Coggins rolled away from pressure by the Raiders (1-1) and looking downfield lofted a pass to Tyrese Jones. Jones leapt above a defender for the catch, turned on the way down and slipped away into the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown. McCalla was good again on the PAT to make it 23-0 with 9:22 left in the first half.
Special teams produced another big play for the Bulldogs when Noah Jackson and Devis Dean teamed up to block a punt with Jackson hauling in the football and set Lithonia up at the Raider 16 before a lightning delay began that last until after eight o’clock.
Following the delay, Coggins finished the short drive with a keeper on third and five at the 11 by going around the right end and diving over a Raider defender into the end zone for the touchdown. Lithonia led 29-0 with 5:56 left in the half.
A diving interception by Edward Roberts at the Bulldogs eight-yard line ended Redan’s only real scoring threat of the game with just over three minutes left in the half. The Bulldogs started a nine-play, 92-yard drive for the final score of the game.
Coggins closed out the drive with 26 seconds remaining as he threw to the end zone for wide open Za’Quan Jackson for the touchdown. McCalla closed out the scoring with the PAT for a 36-0 halftime lead.
The second half was played under a running clock without any scoring.
Tucker 44, Chamblee 6
The Tucker Tigers rushed for 313 yards and four touchdowns on the way to a 44-6 non-region win over the Chamblee Bulldogs at Hallford Stadium on Friday night.
Christian Copeland led the ground attack for the Tigers with 115 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in the game the Tigers led 34-0 at the half. Quarterback Jace German ran for 92 yards and threw for 128 more and a touchdown for the Tigers.
Thaddeus Tillman and Tajuan Kirk added rushing touchdowns for the Tigers (1-1). Ty’aire Byrd contributed with a 40-yard fumble return for another score. Lance Harrell hit five of his six PATs and added a 32-yard field goal for eight points in the game.
Chamblee fell to 0-2 on the season.
Miller Grove 21, Therrell 6
The Miller Grove Wolverines moved to 2-0 on the season for the first time since 2021 with a 21-6 victory on the road against the Therrell Panthers on Friday night.
Quarterback Thomas Winston threw for one touchdown and rushed for another to lead the Wolverines offense. The defense played tough all night as they allowed the Panthers to cross midfield just once on the night.
Dunwoody 24, Pope 16
Two third quarter touchdowns proved to be the deciding factor for the Dunwoody Wildcats as they knocked off the Pope Greyhounds 24-16 on Friday night at North DeKalb Stadium.
After a back and forth first half in which the Wildcats (1-1) trailed 10-9, they scored on their first two drives of the second half to go up 24-10. Cam Irastorza (83 yards, 2 TDs) and Bradley Stephens (124 yards, 1 TD) put the Wildcats in the end zone in the third quarter to take control of the game. Irastorza’s first touchdown came in the first half to give the Wildcats a 9-3 before Pope rallied to take the 10-9 lead at the break.
David Remigallo led the defense with 13 total tackles (1 fumble recovery), including a tackle in the end zone for a safety to cut an early Pope 3-0 lead to 3-2. Andre Ainsworth added 6 total tackles and 2 pass breakups to go with six total tackles (3 for loss) and forced fumble by Darius Hall.
The win gave first-year head coach Matthew Schmitz his first win.
Towers 41, Copper Basin (TN) 0
The Tower Titans traveled across the state line to take on Copper Basin (TN) on Friday and came away with a 41-0 victory in a game delayed to a 9:15 start by severe weather.
The win gave the Titans their first 2-0 on-the-field start since 2013 led by Josh Kent Bailey’s big night. Bailey rushed for two touchdowns and threw a 40-yard touchdown to Cornelius Collins for Towers. King Gunn, Tylar Wooten and Zamir Hooper added touchdowns. Courtney Helms had an interception to help lead the defense in the shutout.
Druid Hills 17, Midtown 14
The Druid Hills Red Devils scored a touchdown with just over two minutes to play to upend the Midtown Knights 17-14 at Adams Stadium on Friday night.
Trailing 14-10 late in the fourth quarter, the Red Devils scored on a Deonte Smith touchdown run with 2:10 to play to seal the win.
Druid Hills (1-1) led 3-0 at the half on a 40-yard field goal by Wyatt Bennett (also had 2 PATs). The Red Devils took a 10-0 advantage early in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Malchi Pace (15-28, 132 yards) to Devin Williams.
Defensive tackle Chaz Glover led the Druid Hills defense with six tackles including one and a half sacks.
Lithonia High Bulldogs trample Redan High
Photos provided by Mark Brock
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE WEEK 2
Thursday, 8/21
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stephenson (2-0) 40, Arabia Mountain (1-1) 20
Friday, 8/22
ADAMS STADIUM
Druid Hills (1-1) 17, Midtown (0-2) 14
COBB STADIUM
Lithonia (2-0) 36, Redan (1-1) 0
GODFREY STADIUM
KIPP (1-1) 38, McNair (0-2) 8
HALLFORD STADIUM
Tucker (1-1) 44, Chamblee (0-2) 6
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Dunwoody (1-1) 24, Pope (0-2) 16
AWAY GAMES
Temple (2-0) 63, Clarkston (0-2) 6
Carrollton (2-0) 41, Columbia (0-2) 7
Riverside Military (1-1) 36, Cross Keys (0-2) 6
St. Pius X (2-0) 34, Lakeside (1-1) 27
M.L. King (2-0) 30, Tri-Cities (0-2) 6
Central Gwinnett (1-0) 42, Stone Mountain (0-2) 6
Towers (2-0) 41, Copper Basin, TN (0-1) 0
LAKEWOOD STADIUM
Miller Grove (2-0) 21, Therrell (0-2) 6
OPEN: Cedar Grove (1-0), SW DeKalb (0-1)