The 10th Battle for the Golden Spike kicks off at 7:30 pm at North DeKalb Stadium as the Chamblee Bulldogs host the Dunwoody Wildcats in the 26th meeting of the two high school football programs.
The two communities were connected via the railroad and in 2014 the Golden Spike Trophy was first handed out to the winner of the rivalry game that Dunwoody now leads 13-12 overall. The teams first met in 1974 and Chamblee has won the past three meetings including a 37-21 victory a year ago. Dunwoody had won the first six Gold Spike meetings.
Dunwoody (1-0) is coming off a by-week after a season opening 35-7 win over North Springs. The Wildcat passing attack is led by quarterback Matt Pearch who threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener. He connected with Porter Allison, Danny Bolden and Malachi Cranshaw for touchdowns.
Caden Celestine and Owen Painter each added a rushing touchdown in the win. Senior Luke Cole (9 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 TFL), junior Noble Butler (6 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFL) and sophomore Rhett Hesperich (4 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 TFL) lead the Wildcat defense.
Chamblee enters the game at 2-0 on the season following wins over South Cobb (35-29) and Towers (21-12). The Bulldogs are led offensively by senior quarterback Ashton Bolston (295 yards passing, 3 TDs; 193 yards rushing, 1 TD). Tristain Sizemore has 9 receptions for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the receiving corps and Larry Harris provides big play capabilities on offense and special teams.
Harris also has 15 tackles, including one for a loss, on defense. Sophomore linebacker Jacob Hawkins has 20 total tackles to lead the defense while senior defensive end Brodney Taylor adds 19 total tackles (1.5 sacks, 4 TFL). Sophomore Ed Reed III had a big night against Towers with a blocked punt, blocked field goal, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, all on special teams.
Stephenson (2-0) vs. Arabia Mountain (1-1)
The newly Class 4A No. 10 ranked Stephenson Jaguars travel to Godfrey Stadium to take on the Arabia Mountain Rams in the Rams Homecoming game at 7:30 pm on Friday.
It is the eighth meeting between the two DeKalb programs with Stephenson holding a 7-0 lead in the series. The last three meetings have been tight contests including 20-7 (2022), 20-10 (2021) and 7-0 (2020).
Stephenson is 2-0 with wins over Lithia Springs (46-20) and Riverdale (54-0) to open the season. The offense revolves around talented running back Devin Ingram who upped his career totals to 1,607 yards and 23 touchdowns with 256 yards and five touchdowns in the first two games of the season for a 128.0 yard per game average. Junior quarterback Marte Barton has 259 yards passing and two touchdowns on the season while receiver Trent Fields Jr. has six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Senior linebacker Kaleb Bristow leads the Jaguar defense with 17 tackles (13 solo) and senior Amir Amerson has 9 tackles.
Arabia Mountain’s offense is led by quarterback Julian Shanks (259 yards passing, 1 TD; 78 yards rushing, 1 TD) and receiver Alex Richard (11 receptions, 156 yards, 1 TD). Running back Laron Jones plays a big role in both the running and passing game as well as special teams.
The linebacking duo of senior Daniel Turpin (14 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL) and junior Seth Keene (9 tackles, 2.5 sacks) anchor a defense that has allowed just 108 yards of total offense in two games.
OTHER GAMES
Four games are on tap for tonight (Thursday) including home games by Cross Keys and Miller Grove.
Cross Keys (0-2) hosts Flint River (1-0) at 7:00 pm at Adams Stadium and Miller Grove (1-1) entertains undefeated Douglass (2-0) in a 7:00 pm kickoff at Hallford Stadium.
Lakeside (2-0) travels to Tara Stadium to take on Forest Park (0-1) at 7:00 pm and Columbia (1-1) faces off with Washington (0-2) at 7:00 pm at Lakewood Stadium in two road games.
Class 3A No. 1 ranked Cedar Grove (1-1) goes on the road to face Class 7A No. 7 ranked Westlake (2-0) in a game to be televised on GPB at 7:30 pm on Friday.
DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 3
Thursday, Aug. 31
ADAMS STADIUM
Flint River (1-0) vs. Cross Keys (0-2), 7:00 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Douglass (2-0) vs. Miller Grove (1-1), 7:00 pm
AWAY
TARA STADIUM
Lakeside (2-0) vs. Forest Park (0-1), 7:00 pm
LAKEWOOD STADIUM
Columbia (1-1) vs. Washington (0-2), 7:00 pm
Friday, Sept. 1
ADAMS STADIUM
Berkmar (1-1) vs. Druid Hills (2-0), 7:30 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
Discovery (0-2) at Stone Mountain (0-2), 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Stephenson (2-0) vs. Arabia Mountain (1-1) HC, 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Locust Grove (0-1) vs. M.L. King (0-2), 7:30 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Dunwoody (1-0) vs. Chamblee (2-0), 7:30 pm
AWAY GAMES
Cedar Grove (1-1) at Westlake (2-0), 7:30 pm (GPB TV)
LAKEWOOD STADIUM
Clarkston (0-1) vs. Therrell (1-0), 5:30 pm
HENDERSON STADIUM
Lithonia (0-2) at Landmark Christian (0-2), 7:30 pm
SOUTHERN CRESCENT STADIUM
McNair (1-1) vs. North Clayton (2-0), 7:30 pm
Southwest DeKalb (1-1) at Decatur (1-1), 7:30 pm
Redan (1-1) at Tri-Cities (1-1), 7:30 pm
Saturday, Sept. 2
AWAY
HENDERSON STADIUM
Towers (0-2) vs. BEST Academy (0-2), 4:00 pm
OPEN: Tucker (2-0)