Sports
Tucker, Cedar Grove Headline New Football Season
Eight DeKalb high school teams open the 2012 season on Friday.
DeKalb County high school football opens with a bang as Tucker and Cedar Grove line up to play on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Clarkston’s Hallford Stadium.
The , under the direction of first year head coach , enter the game as the No. 2 ranked team in Class AAAAA and coming off .
The team's offense is led by preseason Class AAAAA All-State quarterback Juwaan Williams and is coming off a 14-13 preseason victory over Chattahoochee. Running back Yusuf Minor joined Williams on the All-State team.
Coach Ray Bonner’s Cedar Grove Saints are coming off a 7-4 playoff season in 2011 and enter the season ranked No. 7 in Class AAA. The Saints are led by AJC Super 11 and preseason Class AAA All-State quarterback Johnathan McCrary who is eyeing the DeKalb County career passing mark this season and possible the state record as well. McCrary who is committed to Vanderbilt has 6,098 yards passing and needs 2,701 yards in 2012 to pass M.L. King’s Jonquel Dawson (8,798) who just graduated.
Cedar Grove also has senior defensive back Everett Nicholas and junior defensive lineman Bryson Allen-Williams on the AAA All-State team.
Another All-DeKalb matchup comes at Panthersville Stadium on Friday at 8 p.m. as Arabia Mountain hosts Clarkston. Arabia Mountain is coming off a 40-7 victory over Forest Park in their preseason scrimmage last weekend.
Lithonia opens its season by hosting South Atlanta in a 5:15 p.m. game at Panthersville Stadium on Friday. The Bulldogs knocked off Salem 20-7 in their preseason game last weekend behind the running of junior Clark Jones (6 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD). Senior defensive lineman David Johnson comes into the season as a preseason Class AAAA All-State pick on defense.
In other games in DeKalb, Lakeside hosts Holy Innocents in a 7:30 p.m. game at Adams Stadium while Towers hosts Maynard Jackson at Avondale. Stone Mountain goes on the road to take on Greater Atlanta Christian on Friday in another 7:30 p.m. contest.
Week 1 Schedule
Friday, Aug. 24
Redan at Cross Keys, 4 p.m. (scrimmage)
South Atlanta vs. Lithonia, Panthersville, 5:15 p.m.
Holy Innocents vs. Lakeside, Adams, 7:30 p.m.
Cedar Grove vs. Tucker, Hallford, 7:30 p.m.
Stone Mountain at Greater Atlanta Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Maynard Jackson vs. Towers, Avondale, 7:30 p.m.
Clarkston vs. Arabia Mountain, Panthersville, 8 p.m.
Mark Brock is the Information Officer/Statistician/Web Manager for DeKalb County Schools Athletics