DeKalb Schools Football: First Round Playoff Results/Recaps

The No. 3 ranked Martin Luther King Lions and the No. 1 ranked Tucker Tigers advanced to the second round of the high school football state playoffs with decisive victories on Friday night.

The Lions (11-0) responded to an opening drive touchdown by Coffee to score 30 consecutive points on the way to a 30-7 lead and cruising to a 30-22 Class AAAAA first round playoff victory at Hallford Stadium.

Senior receiver/kick returner Blake Tibbs kick started the Lions following the Coffee touchdown drive by hauling in the kickoff at the one yard line and racing 99 yards to help King knot the game at 7-7.

The Lions defense which gave up 49 points the week before was very opportunistic as it forced six Coffee turnovers and All-State quarterback Jonquel Dawson connected twice with Joshua Stanford, one for 15 yards following a big Tibbs reception for 50 yards when the receiver went over the defensive back at the Coffee 15 to set up the score.

Dawson also had a 59-yard touchdown toss to Carnell Boyd as the lead stretched to 30-7 heading into the fourth quarter. Coffee fell to 5-6 on the season after earning the No. 4 seed from Region 1-AAAAA. Tucker 44, Sprayberry 14 The Class AAAA No. 1 ranked Tucker Tigers kept their season unblemished with a second quarter explosion and almost 500 yards rushing in the game to trounce Sprayberry 44-14 at Adams Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets had tied the game at 7-7 with 10:30 to play in the first half when the Tigers got rolling behind a Dallas Rivers 31-yard touchdown run to take the lead at 15-7 following a two-point conversion pass from Blair Lumpkin to Joshua Dawson.

Rivers had given the Tigers their first lead at 7-0 earlier in the first quarter on a 34-yard run. Junior quarterback Juwaan Williams got loose on the Tigers’ next possession for a 30-yard run for the score as the lead went to 22-7. Junior running back Yusuf Minor who finished the game with 192 yards rushing on seven carries struck on Tucker's next turn with the ball as he broke away for an 80-yard touchdown run.

Rivers converted the two-point conversion for a 30-7 halftime lead. Tucker added a 79-yard run by Minor and a 22-yard run by Williams as the score went to 44-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sprayberry which finished 5-6 on the season added a late touchdown for the final of 44-14. East Paulding 10, SW DeKalb 6 The underdog Southwest DeKalb Panthers jumped out to a 6-0 lead on East Paulding, but failed the score the rest of the way in the defensive struggle to fall 10-6.

William "Shaq" Goodwin hauled in a touchdown pass for the Panthers' early lead before East Paulding answered to take a 7-6 lead at the half. East Paulding blocked the point after attempt by the Panthers.

East Paulding added a late field goal for the final of 10-6 after blocking a field goal attempt by the Panthers. Southwest DeKalb finished 8-3 on the season. In other playoff games involving DeKalb schools, Columbia (6-5) fell 28-0 to Carrollton and Cedar Grove came up short in a 28-20 loss to Troup County (9-2) in Class AAA playoff games.

The No. 8 ranked Stephenson Jaguars (9-2) could not must enough offense to get past Lowndes County (8-3) in a 7-0 Class AAAAA first round playoff loss on Saturday at Hallford Stadium.

Week 13 Results Friday, Nov. 11

Class AAA Playoffs

Carrollton (10-1) 28, Columbia (6-5) 0

Class AAAA Playoffs

East Paulding (10-1) 10, SW DeKalb (8-3) 6

Tucker (11-0) 44, Sprayberry (5-6) 14

Class AAAAA Playoffs

M.L. King (11-0) 30, Coffee (5-6) 22

Saturday, Nov. 12

Lowndes Co. (8-3) 7, Stephenson (9-2) 0

Class AAA Playoffs

Troup Co. (9-2) 28, Cedar Grove (7-4) 20