Excitement has continued to grow over the past four weeks as the Arabia Mountain Rams and Tucker Tigers moved toward this weeks expected meeting for the Region 4-5A title at Adams Stadium on Friday night at 7:30.

Both the Rams (8-1, 4-0) and Tigers (6-3, 4-0) are undefeated in region play and the winner comes out with the coveted No. 1 seed heading into the Class 5A state playoffs and both get a home playoff game in the opening round to be played the following Friday (Nov. 10).

Arabia Mountain’s defense has been a big key to the Rams’ season as they have limited teams to 11 points per game, tied for the best in DeKalb County with Dunwoody. Senior linebacker Daniel Turpin (58 tackles, 1 sack, 13 TFL, 2 INT) and senior defensive Kendall Brown (27 tackles, 9 sacks, 9.5 TFL) lead a defense that is allowing just 148.4 yards per game. Senior Daniel Ndukwe (40 tackles, 1 sack, 10.5 TFL, 2 INT) also plays a big role on the defensive side.

The offense is averaging 27 points a game led by quarterback Julian Shanks (937 yards passing, 12 TDs; 243 yards rushing, 3 TDs), running back Laron Jones (488 yards rushing, 4 TDs) and receivers Alex Richard and Daniel Ndukwe both have 4 touchdowns. The Rams are coming off a 21-6 win over Martin Luther King Jr. in region play last weekend.

Tucker counters with an explosive offense that has scored 40 or more points in its past five games and seven of its nine games. The Tigers went for 55 points in defeating Lithonia 55-6 last Thursday night.

Senior running back Jordan McCoy is averaging 184.4 yards/game (1,475 yards, 24 TDs) to lead the Tiger attack and has run for 2,625 yards and 38 TDs in just 16 games over the past two seasons. Jamar Graham has thrown for 1,316 yards and 12 touchdowns while receiver Christian Whitmore has 22 catches for 426 yards and four touchdowns.

The Tiger defense is allowing 26 points per game but has allowed just 20 total in its last three games heading into the showdown with the Rams. Senior linebacker Dallas Kelly (56 tackles, 1 sack, 12 TFL, 1 INT, 2 FC, 3 FR) is the leader on defense while senior defensive end Seth Hardin (26 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4.5 TFL, 5 QB Hurries) chips in with big plays.

The two teams have played just three times previously with Tucker winning the first two games handily and the Rams taking a 14-13 win last season.

There are six all-DeKalb matchups this week including a pair of games with playoff implications including Thursday night’s Region 4-5A tussle between host Chamblee (3-6) and visiting Lithonia (1-8) at North DeKalb at 7:00 pm.

Chamblee dropped a tough 36-34 double-overtime thriller at Decatur last week and needs a win to clinch the No. 4 seed heading into next week’s state playoffs. Lithonia is trying to get its first region win of the season. Chamblee holds an 11-8 advantage in the series as last year’s win by Chamblee broke Lithonia’s 7-game win streak in the series.

A big rivalry is on tap at Hallford Stadium on Friday night at 7:30 as the Southwest DeKalb Panthers (2-7) host the Stephenson Jaguars (7-2) on Senior Night.

Stephenson is on the verge of winning the Region 6-4A title with a win over Southwest DeKalb in this region matchup. Stephenson owns a 12-6 advantage in the series having won the last three. The Jaguars are coming off a big 21-14 win over Holy Innocent’s while the Panthers dropped a 37-19 decision to Westminster.

The Columbia Eagles (6-3, 4-1) travel to Avondale Stadium for their neighborhood rivalry with the Towers Titans (1-8, 1-4) to clinch the No. 2 seed from Region 5-2A. The series dates by to 1968 with the Eagles holding a 16-4-2 mark and 7-0 in a row in on the field victories.

Other all-DeKalb matchups include Druid Hills (7-1-1) against Stone Mountain (1-8) at Godfrey Stadium on Friday and Lakeside (4-5) versus Clarkston (1-8) at North DeKalb Stadium on Friday.

KEY ROAD GAMES
The Dunwoody Wildcats (8-1, 3-1) travel to Henderson Stadium on Friday to take on the North Atlanta Warriors (8-1, 3-1) with the Region 4-6A No. 2 playoff seed and home playoff game on the line. The Wildcats sealed their first playoff berth since the 2008 season with a 32-18 win over Riverwood last Friday.

Cedar Grove (4-5) goes on the road to Lakewood Stadium to take on Carver-Atlanta (2-6) as the Saints play to close out the Region 5-3A slate undefeated and the No. 1 seed heading into the state playoffs.

DCSD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE – WEEK 12
Thursday, Nov. 2
GODFREY STADIUM
Decatur (4-5) vs. M.L. King (2-7)*(SN), 7:00 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Eagle’s Landing Christian (4-5) vs. McNair (4-5)* (SN), 7:00 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Lithonia (1-8) vs. Chamblee (3-6)* (SN), 7:00 pm

Friday, Nov. 3
ADAMS STADIUM
Arabia Mountain (8-1) vs. Tucker (6-3)* (SN), 7:30 pm
AVONDALE STADIUM
Columbia (6-3) vs. Towers (1-8)* (SN), 7:30 pm
GODFREY STADIUM
Druid Hills (7-1-1) vs. Stone Mountain (1-8) (SN), 7:30 pm
HALLFORD STADIUM
Stephenson (7-2) vs. SW DeKalb (2-7)*, 7:30 pm
NORTH DEKALB STADIUM
Lakeside (4-5) vs. Clarkston (1-8) (SN), 7:30 pm

AWAY GAMES
Miller Grove (5-4) at Westminster (6-3)*, 7:00 pm
HENDERSON STADIUM
Dunwoody (8-1) vs. North Atlanta (8-1)*, 8:00 pm
LAKEWOOD STADIUM
Cedar Grove (4-5) vs. Carver-Atl (2-6), 8:00 pm

OPEN: Cross Keys (0-10), Redan (4-6)

*–Region Game
(SN) – Senior Night