Rams, Tigers Open Season With Convincing Victories

By Mark Brock

A light schedule of high school football games opened the 2013 DeKalb County season on Friday highlighted by big wins by the Arabia Mountain Rams and Tucker Tigers.

The Rams got off to a big start as quarterback Trevous Reynolds threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns in the first quarter while leading Arabia Mountain to a 40-7 season opening victory over the Clarkston Angoras (0-1) at Hallford Stadium.

Jakobi Meyers caught the first touchdown pass with 7:19 to play in the first half and Greg Phillips was on the receiving end of three of the touchdown passes (27, 25 and 50 yards) on five receptions covering 152 yards in the opening period. The Rams built a 33-0 lead at the half.

Clarkston had a 62 yard touchdown pass play called back early in the second quarter, but managed to get on the scoreboard in the second half.

Tucker 51, Cedar Grove 12
The Class AAAAA No. 2 ranked Tucker Tigers (1-0) got off to slow start against the Cedar Grove Saints (0-1) before Dominic Sanders turned in some big plays to get the Tigers rolling on the way to a 51-12 victory at Panthersville on Saturday.

The Tigers managed just two first downs on their first two possessions, but the Tiger defense was on its best level holding Cedar Grove to minus-five yards of offense on two possessions to set up Sanders first big play.

Sanders fielded a put at his own 44 yard line and weaved his way 56 yards into the end zone to give the Tigers the early 7-0 lead following Eric Webber’s extra point with 5:08 to play in the first period.

Cedar Grove’s Deion Sellers turned a potentially disastrous play into a big play of his own after running down a bad snap, breaking a tackle and racing 85 yards for a touchdown to close the gap to 7-6.

Tucker would answer right back as Yaquis Shelley returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards to give Tucker a 13-6.

Sanders appeared to have his second punt return for a touchdown after 60 yard romp, but a holding penalty nullified the play. It just delayed Sanders his second touchdown three plays. Sanders took a handoff going around to the right, reversed his field and raced past the Cedar Grove defenders on the way to a 52-yard touchdown run and a 20-6 lead with 47 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Quarterback Joseph Farrar would help the Tigers take advantage of a turnover finishing off a 22 yard drive with a six yard touchdown run and Sanders would add a seven yard touchdown run as the lead ballooned to 34-6.

A 10-yard run around left end by Myles Donaldson and a 20-yard field goal by Webber put Tucker up 44-6 at the half.

Elijah Sullivan had a two yard touchdown run in the second half to round out the Tiger scoring.  Sellers added a two-yard touchdown of his own as he finished with 152 yards rushing in the losing effort.

Lithonia 36, South Atlanta 0
Frank Turner intercepted a South Atlanta pass in the opening minutes and returned it for a touchdown to ignite the Lithonia Bulldogs to a 36-0 road
victory over the South Atlanta Hornets.

Quarterback Rico Burton also tossed touchdown passes to Micah Stewart (40
yards) and Courtney Lott (30 yards) as the Bulldogs opened the season 1-0.

Towers 13, Maynard Jackson 0
The Towers Titans’ defense scored two touchdowns and held Jackson scoreless on the way to a season opening 13-0 victory at Grady Stadium. The Titans recovered a fumble in the end zone and returned an interception for a touchdown in the victory.

GAC 48, Stone Mountain 26
Greater Atlanta Christian got two touchdowns apiece from Micah Abernathy and Rafi Chapple in the first half on the way to a 48-26 win over the Stone Mountain Pirates (0-1) at Hallford Stadium on Friday night.

Holy Innocents 28, Lakeside 14
Holy Innocents ruined the debut of new Lakeside Viking coach Heath Hinton with a 28-14 victory at Riverwood on Friday night. The Vikings fell to 0-1 on the season.

Week 1 Results
Friday, Aug. 23
Arabia Mountain (1-0) 40, Clarkston (0-1) 7
Towers (1-0) 13, Jackson-Atl (0-1) 0
Holy Innocents (1-0) 28, Lakeside (0-1) 14
Tucker (1-0) 51, Cedar Grove (0-1) 12
Lithonia (1-0) 36, South Atlanta (0-1) 0
Greater Atlanta Christian (1-0) 48, Stone Mountain (0-1) 26

Did you take photos at any of these games? Post them here!