DeKalb Schools Football: Playoff Preview and Schedule

DeKalb County will have six representatives in the GHSA football state playoffs this weekend with three hosting first round games.

The Class AAAA No. 1 ranked Tucker Tigers (10-0) entertain the Sprayberry Yellowjackets (5-5) in a 7:30 p.m. contest at Adams Stadium on Friday in a Class AAAA first round game.

Tucker is led on offense by junior quarterback Juwaan Williams with over 300 yards passing and rushing with 10 touchdowns accounted for in 9 games and a stable of running backs with over 300 yards each including Dallas Rivers who has over 600 yards rushing on the season. The defense is led by defensive end Josh Dawson and linebacker Jacob Sealand a pair of Vanderbilt commits along with linebacker Jerry Shippy who has 8 tackles for a loss and four sacks.

The No. 3 ranked Martin Luther King Jr. Lions are 10-0 following their thrilling 50-49 last second victory over No. 8 ranked Stephenson (9-1) will host Coffee (5-5) in a Class AAAAA first round game at Hallford Stadium in Clarkston at 7:30 p.m.

The Lions are led by quarterback Jonquel Dawson (2,531 yards passing, 32 touchdowns) and receiver Blake Tibbs (53 receptions, 782 yards, 14 TDs) on offense and the linebacking trio of Kenderius Whitehead (15 sacks), Carlos Garrett and Toronto Thomas.

Both DeKalb teams competing in the Class AAA state playoffs will be travelling on Friday as Columbia (6-4) travels to No. 3 ranked Carrollton (9-1) and Cedar Grove (7-3) travels to Troup County (8-2) for 7:30 p.m. contests.

The Eagles are led by running back O’Kenno Loyal who has over 1,100 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns as he edges closer to the DeKalb County Career
Rushing Top 10. The defense is led by linebacker Harold Peterson (66 tackles through 9 games), Jhaustin Thomas (12 tackles for a loss) and Demba Tamba (11 tackles for a loss).

Cedar Grove’s offense is led by quarterback Johnathan McCrary with over
2,100 yards passing and 25 touchdowns and receiver Xavier Cooper with over 800 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns. The defense is led by defensive end Arthur Wainwright with 19 sacks and 26 tackles for a loss.

The final DeKalb entry into the playoffs is No. 8 ranked Stephenson (9-1) which will host Lowndes County (7-3) on Saturday at Hallford Stadium in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

The Jaguars are led by senior running back Mike Davis (1,750 yards, 21 TDs) and receiver DeMarcus Sweat (5 receiving touchdowns, 3 punt returns for TDs and 1 kickoff return for a TD).  Senior linebacker Raphael Kirby (102 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 21 tackles for a loss) and senior defensive end Jarontay Jones (90 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss).

Week 13 Schedule
Friday, Nov. 11
Class AAA Playoffs
Cedar Grove (7-3) at Troup Co. (8-2), 7:30 p.m.
Columbia (6-4) at Carrollton (9-1), 7:30 p.m.

Class AAAA Playoffs
SW DeKalb (8-2) at East Paulding (9-1), 7:30 p.m.
Sprayberry (5-5) vs. Tucker (10-0), Adams, 7:30 p.m.

Class AAAAA Playoffs
Coffee (5-5) vs. M.L. King (10-0), Hallford, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 12
Lowndes Co. (7-3) vs. Stephenson (9-1), Hallford, 7:30 p.m.

Mark Brock is the Statistician and Information Officer for DeKalb County Schools Athletics