Sports
Football Preview: Tucker Faces Lovejoy for AAAA State Title
No. 1 ranked Tucker takes on undefeated Lovejoy in Class AAAA title game this Friday.
The 2011 Class AAAA high school football champion game features the No. 1 ranked Tucker Tigers and the No. 6 ranked Lovejoy Wildcats at 8 p.m. in the Georgia Dome on Friday.
Tucker is in the state title game for the second time in four years thanks in part to a 100-yard fumble return by senior Justin Rivers in the final five minutes of the (13-1) last Friday night in Warner Robins.
It also took big defensive plays by Jacob Rush (tackle for a loss on fourth down) and an interception by junior defensive back/quarterback Juwaan Williams in the final 2:32 of the game. Senior running back Jordan Landry added 95 yards rushing and a 31-yard touchdown in the victory.
The Tigers, the Region 6-AAAA champions, are 14-0 for the first time in school history as they head to the Georgia Dome for the second time in the Class AAAA state title game. Tucker defeated Marist 15-3 for the 2008 Class AAAA title and finished 14-1 on the season.
Sophomore Dallas Rivers (863, 17 touchdowns) and junior Yusuf Minor (830, 13 touchdowns) have both rushed for over 800 yards along with Landry (788, 12 touchdowns) for a Tiger offense which has compiled over 4,000 yards on the ground this season. Minor also has 252 yards receiving with four touchdowns and quarterback Juwaan Williams has 595 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns to go with 546 yards passing and 7 touchdowns.
Lovejoy (14-0) enters the title game following a 21-6 victory over Warner Robbins in the semifinals and a defense that has eight shutouts on the season. The Wildcats are the Region 4-AAAA champions.
Travis Custis had 137 yards rushing and a touchdown to lead the Wildcats in the semifinal win while quarterback Alejandro Benefield connected with receiver A.J. Jackson on two touchdown passes.
The Lovejoy defense was led by defensive back Jermaine Hough who had two interceptions to set up two of the three Wildcat scores in the game.
Class AAAA State Finals
Friday, Dec. 9
Lovejoy (14-0) vs. Tucker (14-0), 8 p.m., Georgia Dome
Mark Brock is the Statistician and Information Officer for DeKalb County Schools Athletics