Schools

DeKalb Middle School Football: Lithonia Defeats Stephenson for Trail to the Title Championship

The Lithonia Bulldogs had a 12-8 victory.

The Lithonia Bulldogs concluded an improbable run to the Trail to the
Title middle school football championship with a 12-8 victory over
defending champion Stephenson Jaguars.

A big fourth and goal stop of Stephenson quarterback Xavier Shepherd by
the Lithonia defense with the Jaguars threatening to score the winning
touchdown inside the Lithonia 10 with less than two minutes to play put
the finishing touches on the Bulldogs 12-8 championship victory.

Lithonia (8-2) opened the title game by taking the opening possession and
driving 63 yards in 12 plays culminated with a two-yard touchdown run by
Kamrie Mullins with 3:32 remaining in the first quarter. The two-point
conversion was no good and the lead stood at 6-0 in favor of Lithonia.

The defending champion Jaguars (8-2) drove to the Lithonia 19-yard line
where the drive stalled on downs when Lithonia’s Addison Ford stopped
Shephard for a loss.

Stephenson defensive lineman Khalil Robinson stepped up on Lithonia’s
next drive after Lithonia running backs Courtney Lott and Deonte Jones had
first down runs of 12 and 13 yards, respectively. Robinson had a tackle
for a loss on third down and then was the lead tackler on the stop of
Lithonia’s fake punt attempt to force the turnover on downs.

The Jaguars drove into Lithonia territory again mostly on the back of a
26-yard pass play from Shephard to Eric Ross. The drive came up short of a
score as a pair of penalties and an incomplete pass lead to a turnover on
downs. Lithonia then ran out the rest of the first half to take the 6-0
lead into the locker room.

Stephenson opened the second half riding the arm of Shephard as he
connected for two first downs to Keiontay Davis and then a 15-yard
completion to Tariq Ricks setting up a first down at the Lithonia 11.
Shephard ran it in from 11 yards out, but a holding penalty nullified the
touchdown.

Lithonia gave the Jaguars new life as a roughing the passer call on fourth
down set the Jaguars up at the Bulldog six. Big Jaguar fullback Edwin
Baker went the final six yards for the touchdown and then tacked on the
two-point conversion to give Stephenson an 8-6 lead with the third quarter
winding down.

The Bulldogs went back to the run using Lott, Mullins and Jones driving to
the Stephenson 19 with just over five minutes to play. Lott, the game’s
Most Valuable Player with 76 yards rushing on 9 attempts, finished off the
drive with a 19-yard touchdown run to give Lithonia the 12-8 advantage
with less than five minutes to play in the game.

Following the kickoff, the Jaguars went back to the running game with
Baker and Shephard driving to the Lithonia 11 as the clock ticked under
two minutes.

Lithonia’s defense then stood its ground forcing a loss, an incomplete
pass, a no gain and then the big stop on Shepard to seal the victory.

Stephenson’s Khalil Robinson who played a key role in stopping a
potential scoring drive for the Bulldogs to take a two score lead was
named the game’s Defensive MVP.

The Bulldogs, the No. 3 seed from Region 3, reached the finals for just
the second time in the eight year history of the Trail to the Title
playoffs. Lithonia defeated Tucker 28-12 in the opening round, Cedar Grove
26-6 in the second round and Salem 32-20 in the semifinals in advancing to
the title game. The Bulldogs’ first title appearance was a 28-12 loss to
Avondale in the 2007 title game.

Mark Brock is the Information Officer/Athletics Statistician/Web Manager for DeKalb County Schools Athletics/East DeKalb Campus.


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