All six teams competing for the Region 5-5A state playoff spots reside in DeKalb County as they play their first of five consecutive region games on Friday.

Lithonia (1-4, 0-0) takes on Columbia (2-3, 0-0) in the 5:15 pm opener at Godfrey Stadium to kickoff region play.

The Bulldogs are led by senior quarterback Robert Hatchett III who leads the team in rushing (298 yards, 3 TDs) and has passed for 764 yards and 7 TDs. Sophomore Kevah Brantley is Hatchett’s big target in the passing game with 17 receptions for 290 yards and 3 TDs.

Senior Keyshawn Garrett leads the Lithonia defense with 44 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks to go with two fumbles caused. Senior defensive end Deion Hadley has 12 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks while senior defensive lineman Ashanti Benloss has 10 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.

Thaddeus Easley leads the Eagles on offense with 300 yards rushing and 2 TDs while quarterback Tremaine Callaway adds 165 yards rushing and 374 through the air.

Senior linebacker Marquavious Linner leads the Columbia defense with 62 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and 2 fumbles caused.

Arabia Mountain vs. Miller Grove
The No. 8 ranked Arabia Mountain Rams (4-1, 0-0) return to action against region and DeKalb County rival Miller Grove (2-3, 0-0) in a 7:30 pm Region 5-5A matchup at Avondale Stadium.

The Rams look to rebound from their first loss of the season two weeks ago against East Coweta (20-14) and get atop the region standings.

Senior quarterback Samad Noble triggers the Ram offensive attack as the second leading rusher with 301 yards and 4 TDs while passing for 559 yards and 5 TDs. His main target in the passing game has been senior Michael Miller who has 21 receptions for 340 yards and 2 TDs.

Senior running backs Brandon Snowball (423 yards rushing, 5 TDs) and Carl White III (278 yards rushing, 4 TDs) help the Rams effort on the ground.

The senior linebacking corps of preseason All-State Terray Bryant (92 tackles, 6 fumbles caused, 4 fumbles recovered, 1 Int) and Joshua Cook (70 tackles, 3 tackles for loss) anchor what has been a very tough Rams defense this season.

Freshman Deondre Jackson (436 yards rushing, 4 TDs) and senior Roderick Harper (328 yards rushing, 3 TDs) provide a good 1-2 punch at running back for the Wolverines. Junior quarterback Darren Parker (381 yards passing, 5 TDs) teams up with senior Ezekio Gouch (14 receptions, 165 yards, 4 TDs) to do most of the damage through the air.

Defensively, the Wolverines are led by a trio of defensive lineman including senior Dalonte Marcelin (5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack), junior Caleb Tannor (7 tackles for loss, 4 sacks) and sophomore Jon Ross Burns (32 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack).

SW DeKalb vs. Chamblee
The third game in Region 5-5A this week is an 8 pm kickoff at Hallford Stadium between the Southwest DeKalb Panthers (2-3, 0-0) and the Chamblee Bulldogs (1-4, 0-0).

The Panthers hope to see junior quarterback Justin Tomlin return after missing the past two games in an effort to end a three-game skid since their upset victory over Cedar Grove the second week of the season. Tomlin had rushed for 250 yards and 2 TDs and passed for 653 yards and 4 TDs before getting injured against Creekside.

Senior Javeon Cody has filled in at quarterback and passed for 307 yards, but had been a big target for Tomlin with 10 catches for 246 yards and 1 TD in the first three weeks of the season. Devaugn Brown has 21 receptions for 270 yards for the Panthers.

Junior linebacker Eris Walker leads the Panther defense with 53 total tackles (4 for loss, 2 sacks) with sophomore cornerback Jamel Starks adding 34 tackles and senior linebacker Jujuan Long collecting 34 tackles (3 for loss, 3 sacks). Junior defensive end Brian Powell has five sacks on the season.

Sophomore Joshua Tate leads the Bulldog ground attack with 285 yards and 3 TDs while senior receiver Jansen King has 261 yards receiving with 2 TDs and 73 yards rushing.

Senior safety Tyler McClinton has 38 tackles to lead the Bulldogs’ defense to go with 25 tackles (3 for loss, 1 sack) by senior safety Arthur Murry and 24 tackles (5 for loss, 2 sacks) by senior defensive tackle, Robert Murry.

Other home games this week include a doubleheader at Adams Stadium including Cross Keys (1-1) hosting North Springs at 5:15 pm and Lakeside (4-2, 1-1) hosting Parkview (3-2, 0-1) in a Region 7-7A contest at 8 pm.

Cedar Grove (3-2, 1-1) has homecoming at Godfrey Stadium at 8:00 pm against Towers (2-3, 1-1) and Redan (1-4, 0-2) has homecoming against McNair (3-2, 1-1) at 5:15 pm at Hallford Stadium. Both games are Region 5-3A contests.

Dunwoody (2-3, 1-2) entertains Cambridge (3-2, 3-1) in a Region 7-6A contest at North DeKalb Stadium with kickoff set for 7:30 pm

DCSD WEEK 8 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 7
ADAMS STADIUM
North Springs Charter (3-2) vs. Cross Keys (1-1), 5:15 pm
Parkview (3-2, 0-1) vs. Lakeside (4-2, 1-1), 8:00 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
Miller Grove (2-3, 0-0) vs. Arabia Mountain (4-1, 0-0), 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Lithonia (1-4, 0-0) vs. Columbia (2-3, 0-0), 5:15 pm
Cedar Grove (3-2, 1-1) (HC) vs. Towers (2-3, 1-1), 8:00 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Redan (1-4, 0-2) (HC) vs. McNair (3-2, 1-1), 5:15 pm
SW DeKalb (2-3, 0-0) vs. Chamblee (1-4, 0-0), 8:00 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Cambridge (3-2, 3-1) vs. Dunwoody (2-3, 1-2), 7:30 pm

AWAY GAMES
Stone Mountain (1-4, 0-2) at Lovett (3-2, 1-1), 7:30 pm
Druid Hills (2-4, 0-2) at Luella (2-4, 0-2), 7:30 pm

OPEN
Clarkston (0-7), M.L. King (2-4, 0-3) Stephenson (3-3, 2-1), Tucker (5-1, 3-0)