By Mark Brock
Eight DeKalb County Schools kick off the 2013 high school football season on Friday with DeKalb County hosting three of the games.
The feature game pits 2012 playoff entries against one another as Class AAA Cedar Grove under new head coach Jermaine Smith hosts Class AAAAA Tucker at Panthersville. The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Smith, the offensive coordinator at Cedar Grove, takes over for long time Cedar Grove coach Ray Bonner who retired following the 6-5 2012 season after 10 years at the helm of the Saints, including three consecutive playoff seasons (2010-2012).
Smith will be breaking in a new quarterback as Jonathan McCrary, DeKalb’s all-time leading passer, graduated. Senior running back Deion Sellers who combined for over 1,300 yards of offense in 2012 (753 yards rushing, 9 TDs; 49 receptions, 563 yards, 4 TDs) returns along with one of the top three receivers in senior Brandon Norwood (34 receptions, 501 yards, 4 TDs). Highly ranked linebacker/defensive end recruit Bryson Allen-Williams (99 tackles, 16 sacks, 22 tackles for loss) returns to lead the defense.
Tucker is coming off a 10-3 finish and Class AAAAA quarterfinal appearance in 2012 in Coach Bryan Lamar’s first season and is looking to improve on that run in 2013 in the tough Region 6-AAAAA.
The versatile Dominick Sanders returns for his senior season to lead the Tigers after rushing for 718 yards and 6 touchdowns and catching 16 patches for 328 and four touchdowns in 2012. Linebacker Detric Dukes (79 tackles, 3 sacks and 11 TFLs) and highly touted defensive lineman Elisha Shaw (22 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 TFLs) return to lead the defense.
Clarkston and Arabia Mountain tee it up for the first game of 2013 in DeKalb County as the pair locks horns in a 5:15 p.m. game at Hallford Stadium as part of a doubleheader.
Arabia Mountain debuts first year coach Stanley Pritchett who takes over for Christopher Beal, the only the coach the Rams had since the school opened in 2009. The 2012 season for the Rams included a 4-6 record overall (best in school’s history) in the tough Region 6-AAAAA.
Pritchett has senior quarterback Trevous Reynolds who passed for over 2,000 yards returning along with senior receiver Jonathan Slaton who caught 38 passes for 690 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2012.
Coach Gary Wansley led the Angoras to their first non-losing season in 2012 with a 5-5 record, but lost his top rusher and receiver in Khalif Harper who led the team with 744 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.
James Holloway gets his first game as head coach at Towers as the Titans travel to Grady Stadium in Atlanta to take on Maynard Jackson at 5:15 p.m. Holloway built a successful program at DeKalb’s Bethune Middle School including appearances in the Trail to the Title championship game on three occasions.
Another new head coach also opens his career as Lakeside’s Heath Hinton takes over for the departed Mike Rozier. The Vikings travel to Riverwood for a 7:30 p.m. contest against Holy Innocents. Senior Bradley Earnest leads the Vikings offense after combining for 876 yards and 7 touchdowns rushing and receiving and led the team with 81 tackles on defense in 2012.
Lithonia and Coach Marcus Jelks travel to Grady Stadium in Atlanta to take on South Atlanta in an 8 p.m. game. The Bulldogs are looking to rebound from a 3-7 record in 2012. Senior quarterback Frank Turner and senior running back Malcolm Brown return to lead the Bulldog offense. Senior defensive lineman Devon Wallace (98 tackles, 10 TFL) and senior safety Darrell Caliste (83 tackles, 11 TFL) return to lead the defense.
Week 1 Schedule
Friday, Aug. 23
Clarkston (0-0) vs. Arabia Mountain (0-0), Hallford, 5:15 p.m.
Towers (0-0) at Jackson-Atl (0-0), Grady, 5:15 p.m.
Lakeside (0-0) at Holy Innocents (0-0), Riverwood, 7:30 p.m.
Cedar Grove (0-0) vs. Tucker (0-0), Panthersville, 7:30 p.m.
Lithonia (0-0) vs. South Atlanta (0-0), Grady, 8:00 p.m.
Stone Mountain (0-0) vs. Greater Atlanta Christian (0-0), Hallford, 8 p.m.
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