Tucker running back Chris Broadwater (28) runs behind his teammates’ blocking against Lovejoy. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Tucker running back Chris Broadwater rushed for 167 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 31-21 victory over Region 2-6A leader Lovejoy on Friday night at Adams Stadium.

Broadwater helped Tucker (6-3, 3-1) forge a three-way tie in the region standings that coupled with a victory over Lakeside in the season finale on Friday at Adams Stadium would give the Tigers the No. 2 seed and a home playoff game heading into the Class 6A state playoffs.

Touchdown runs of 24 yards in the first quarter and 20 yards in the second quarter put Tucker up 14-0 with 3:44 left in the half as Broadwater kept finding holes behind his offensive line.

A short punt by Lovejoy gave the Tigers a short field and Broadwater scored on a five-yard run with 1:00 left in the half. Adam Lippy hit his third point after try for a 21-0 lead.

Lovejoy which had rebounded from a 0-3 start to the season and knock off then region Newton 20-16 a week ago was not ready to quit.

A long kickoff return and a big pass play set up a Trevaro Hardy five-yard run for a score to close the gap at 21-7 heading into the half.

An improving Tiger defense held Lovejoy on the opening possession of the second half, but on the punt return the ball was stripped and returned for a Lovejoy touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14 with 10:57 to play in the third quarter.

The Tigers answered right back as a big 30-yard pass from Garrett Rigby to Tabarius Peterson set up Broadwater’s fourth touchdown, a 17 yard run with 6:29 left in the third period. Lippy tacked on his fourth PAT for a 28-14 lead.

Lovejoy would cut the lead to 28-21 with 3:12 left in the third quarter on a Hardy to Malik Route screen pass play.

Tucker needed to win the game by at least 10 points to get the No. 2 seed. The first play of the fourth quarter was a Lippy 30-yard field goal to give the Tigers the 10 point cushion with 11:55 to play in the game.

The Tiger defense did the job in the fourth quarter by forcing Lovejoy to punt and turn the ball over on downs before the Wildcats got one final possession with 1:22 to play at their own three. Three plays later Tucker’s Terry Beckham intercepted and Tucker ran out the clock to seal the win.

Miller Grove quarterback Daivion Williams (7) hands off to running back Noah Sykes (24). (Photo by Mark Brock)

Miller Grove 21, Druid Hills 7
Daivion Williams accounted for a pair of touchdowns to lead Miller Grove to key Region 6-5A victory over Druid Hills on Friday at Adams Stadium.

Williams opened the scoring with a 22-yard pass to Raylon Richardson with 8:05 to play in the first quarter for a 7-0 Miller Grove (6-3) lead following Okevius Hawkins’ kick.

Tre Hollinger pulled the Red Devils (3-6) carried the load for Druid Hills on a game-tying score with 2:17 to play in the first period. Hollinger had three carries for 70 yards in the drive, including the final 36 yards for the score.

Druid Hills quarterback Tre’ Hollinger (1, right) follows the block of Arquese Jeter (4). (Photo by Mark Brock)

The teams went to the half knotted at 7-7.

Ezekial Gouch put the Wolverines ahead to stay with 3:36 left in the third quarter on a 36-yard scamper into the end zone. Hawkins kick made it 14-7.

Williams clinched the win with his 1-yard sneak into the end zone with 5:24 to play in the game. The score completed a 12-play, 65-yard drive all on the ground.

The win sets up a Region 6-5A play-in game with Carver-Atlanta at 7:30 pm on Friday at Hallford Stadium where the Wolverines could earn their first ever playoff berth.

Stephenson 55, SW DeKalb 0
Tristan Kinsler rushed for 160 yards to lead the Stephenson Jaguars to a 55-0 victory over the Southwest DeKalb Panthers for the Region 6-5A Sub Region A title.

The No. 5 ranked Jaguars (8-1) also took advantage of three Panthers (4-5) fumbles in the win.

Stephenson moves into the Region 6-5A championship game at Lakewood Stadium on Friday at 7:30 pm against No. 2 ranked Mays (9-0).

Cedar Grove 33, South Atlanta 20
Quarterback Jelani Woods accounted for four touchdowns to lead the No. 5 ranked Cedar Grove Saints to a 33-20 victory over South Atlanta at Lakewood on Friday.

Woods had 230 yards passing and threw for three touchdowns and added on rushing touchdown for the Saints. LeBron Morris added a rushing touchdown for the Saints (8-1).

The Saints play host to No. 2 ranked Blessed Trinity (9-0) at 7:30 pm on Friday at Godfrey Stadium for the Region 4-3A championship.

DEKALB FOOTBALL RESULTS
Friday, Oct. 30
Miller Grove (6-3) 21, Druid Hills (3-6) 7
Cedar Grove (8-1) 33, South Atlanta (0-9) 20
Maynard Jackson (5-4) 22, McNair (2-7) 0
M.L. King (4-5) 27, Dunwoody (2-7) 13  
Newton Co. (8-1) 53,  Lakeside (4-5) 0
Stephenson (8-1) 55, SW DeKalb (4-5) 0
St. Pius (7-2) 56, Stone Mountain (0-9) 0
Tucker (6-3) 31, Lovejoy (4-5) 21

Saturday, Oct. 31
Columbia (4-5) 24, Chamblee (2-7) 10
Lithonia (5-4) 26, Redan (4-4) 22
North Clayton (4-5) 14, Towers (2-7) 10
Grady (5-4) 8, Arabia Mountain (4-5) 3

OPEN: Clarkston (1-7), Cross Keys (0-5)