Southwest DeKalb roars past Clarkston 70-0 for first region win

By Mark Brock

DCSD Athletics Specialist

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–The Southwest DeKalb HIGH Panthers wiped out the Clarkston Angoras in a 70-0 victory in the first meeting between the two DeKalb County schools since 1979.

Clarkston (0-3, 0-1)) kicked to the Panthers’ Jordan Christie who drifted to his right, hauled in the kick, and raced up the right sideline 90 yards to the end zone for the opening score. Kelvin Saturday hit the PAT, the first of a 10-10 night, to make it 7-0.

Southwest DeKalb (2-0, 1-0) made it 14-0 with 10:00 left in the opening period as defensive back Taron Essex had a 38-yard pick-six to up the lead.

The Panthers first offensive play of the game was screen to Josh Jones who weaved his way across the field and down the right sideline into the end zone with 7:41 reaming in the first quarter as the lead ballooned to 21-0.

Carter would add touchdown passes of 30 yards to Romique Thomas and 25 to Jordan Christie for a 35-0 lead on just three offensive plays.

The Southwest quarterback tossed a 12-yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone to Sam Turner and added a nine-yard run into the end zone as the Panthers upped the score to 49-0. Tamir Rudolph added a seven-yard touchdown run as the half ended to make it 56-0.

Kingston Labdell added another Panther touchdown in the third quarter and Tyler Wright-Golden another in fourth to round out the scoring.

Carter finished the night 5-of-5 passing for 124 yards and four touchdowns all in the first half for the Panthers. Rudolph finished with 79 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Friday, Sept. 6 

There are only three home games on Friday,  in DeKalb featuring an all-DeKalb, Region 5-4A battle between the Tucker Tigers (1-1) and Lithonia Bulldogs (2-0) set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Hallford Stadium.

Lithonia, under the direction of  Coach Kevin Barnes, enters the contest at 2-0 for the first time since David Edwards led the Bulldogs to a 3-0 start in a 6-5 playoff season in 2018.

Lithonia is led by quarterback Jamon Coggins, who has thrown for 412 yards and five touchdowns; receiver Kayden Miller (12 receptions, 227 yards receiving, 3 TDS); and running back Albert Gooding (42 carries, 238 yards, 1 TD). Tucker’s offense is triggered by sophomore quarterback Jace German, who has thrown for 380 yards and five touchdowns while spreading 33 completions between nine different receivers.

Defensively, the Bulldogs are led by senior middle linebacker Jalen Berry (16 tackles) and junior defensive lineman Josias Dore (16 tackles), who have combined for seven tackles for a loss and a sack. The sophomore-dominated Tigers are led by sophomore linebacker Jamare Tolliver (25 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss) and junior defensive back Dijimon McClendon (20 tackles, 3 pass break ups and 2 caused fumbles).

The other two home games include Columbia (0-2) hosting Douglass (1-2) at Cobb Stadium (7:30), and Druid Hills (1-1) hosting a Region 5-4A contest against North Springs (0-2) at North DeKalb Stadium.

Cross Keys (0-2), Dunwoody (1-1), McNair (2-1), Miller Grove (1-2), Redan (1-2), No. 9 ranked Stephenson and Stone Mountain (0-3) are all on the road.

Six DeKalb teams are off this week including Arabia Mountain (1-2), Cedar Grove (0-2), Chamblee (0-3), Lakeside (1-2), M.L King (1-2) and Towers (1-1).

DCSD FOOTBALL WEEK 4 SCHEDULE

Thursday, Sept. 5

SW DeKalb* (2-1) 70, Clarkston (0-3) 0

Friday, Sept. 6

COBB (AVONDALE) STADIUM

Douglass (1-2) vs. Columbia (0-2), 7:30 pm

HALLFORD STADIUM

Tucker (1-1) vs. Lithonia (2-0)*, 7:30 pm

NORTH DEKALB STADIUM

North Springs (0-2) vs. Druid Hills (1-1)*, 7:30 pm

AWAY

Cross Keys (0-2) at Pinecrest Academy (2-0), 7:30 pm

Dunwoody (1-1) at Lumpkin Co. (1-1), 7:30 pm

McNair (2-1) at Bremen (1-1), 7:30 pm

Miller Grove (1-2) at Heritage-Conyers (2-0), 7:30 pm

Stephenson (2-1) at Decatur (2-0), 7:30 pm

Stone Mountain (0-3) at St. Anne-Pacelli (1-2), 7:30 pm

HENDERSON STADIUM – ATLANTA

Redan (1-2) vs. Maynard Jackson (2-0), 7:30 pm

OPEN: Arabia Mountain (1-2), Cedar Grove (0-2), Chamblee (0-3), Lakeside (1-2), M.L King (1-2), Towers (1-1)

*–Region Game

Photos provided by Mark Brock.