Week 2 features 16 DeKalb County football teams, MLK Lions + Tri-Cities Bulldogs to kick off games

By Mark Brock

DEKALB COUNTY, GA–The second week of DeKalb County football action kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 21, as the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions host the Tri-Cities Bulldogs in one of six games scheduled for DeKalb stadiums this week.

The Lions (0-1) are coming off a last minute 14-15 loss to Heritage (Conyers) last week as they look to bounce back against the Bulldogs (0-0) who are playing their season opener.

Five games are set for DeKalb stadiums on Friday with three all-DeKalb matchups topped by a battle of undefeated teams in a neighborhood rivalry at Cobb (Avondale) Stadium as the Redan Raiders (1-0) and Lithonia Bulldogs (1-0) collide in a 7:30 pm kickoff.

The Raiders are coming off a 44-0 win in their rivalry against Stone Mountain last week and leads in the rivalry 19-8. The teams last met in 2019 with Redan taking a 42-0 win over the Bulldogs. Redan won the first eight meeting from 1978-1989 before the Bulldogs broke through in 1992 with a 14-6 victory. Lithonia last won in the 2018 season 24-8.

North DeKalb Stadium hosts the meeting between the Chamblee Bulldogs (0-1) and the Tucker Tigers (0-1) meeting for the 28^th time with the Tigers holding a 16-10-1 advantage in the series. Tucker has won 12 of the last 13 meetings including last year’s 40-14 win. Chamblee won 15-10 in 2022 to break an 11-game losing skid to the Tigers.

The third all-DeKalb matchup is set for Hallford Stadium as the Stephenson Jaguars (0-1) host the Arabia Mountain Rams (1-0) in a series the Jaguars have won seven of the eight matchups. The Rams have some momentum heading into the game following their first win (27-22) over the Jaguars a year ago and a big 61-33 season opening win at Alcovy last week.

Stephenson had to finish a quarter and a half of their season opener with Mays on Monday after storms delays postponed the game on Saturday. Stephenson fell 19-12,a fter trailing 16-6 when the game was stopped on Saturday.

The newly-branded Cross Keys Phoenix play their first game after changing their name from Indians to Phoenix as they open the season against Landmark Christian (1-0) at Adams Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Miller Grove (0-1) looks rebound from a lightning delayed 21-6 loss to Druid Hills last week as they host the Therrell Bulldogs (0-1). Therrell dropped its season opener 49-0 to Hebron Christian.

Seven DeKalb teams go on the road this week including undefeated Dunwoody at Pope (0-1) and Druid Hills against Midtown (0-1) at Henderson Stadium in Atlanta.

Cedar Grove (0-1), Southwest DeKalb (0-1) and Towers (1-0) have open dates this week.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 2

Thursday, Aug. 22

GODFREY STADIUM

Tri-Cities (0-0) vs. M.L. King (0-1), 7:00 pm

Friday, Aug. 23

ADAMS STADIUM

Landmark Christian (1-0) vs. Cross Keys (0-0), 7:30 pm

COBB (AVONDALE) STADIUM

Redan (1-0) vs. Lithonia (1-0), 7:30 pm

GODFREY STADIUM

Therrell (0-1) vs. Miller Grove (0-1), 7:30 pm

HALLFORD STADIUM

Arabia Mountain (1-0) vs. Stephenson (0-1), 7:30 pm

NORTH DEKALB STADIUM

Tucker (0-1) vs. Chamblee (0-1), 7:30 pm

AWAY GAMES

Clarkston (0-1) at Temple (1-0), 7:30 pm

Columbia (0-1) at Carrollton (1-0), 7:30 pm

Druid Hills (1-0) at Midtown (0-1), 7:30 pm

Dunwoody (1-0) vs. Pope (0-1), 7:30 pm

Lakeside (0-1) at St. Pius (0-1), 7:30 pm

McNair (0-1) at KIPP (1-0), 7:30 pm

Stone Mountain (0-1) at Central Gwinnett (1-0), 7:30 pm

OPEN: Cedar Grove (0-1), Southwest DeKalb (0-1), Towers (1-0)

Mark Brock is the athletics specialist for the DeKalb County School District. Photos and story by Mark Brock.