Tucker vs. Stephenson: It’s time to get down to business
One of the best rivalries that has never been is finally upon us.
Tucker vs. Stephenson.
The two DeKalb powers, who are tied with county neighbor M.L. King for first place in 6-AAAAA, will meet for the first time in the schools’ histories at Hallford Stadium on Friday in the first of three games among the three teams that will determine the top three seeds in 6-AAAAA.
The Tigers and Jaguars have a lot in common. Both are undefeated and in the top four of the AJC rankings (Tucker is No. 2, Stephenson is No. 4); both offenses are among the top six in Class AAAAA (Tucker is No. 1 at 47.8 points per game, Stephenson is No. 6 at 40.8); and both defenses are among the top seven in AAAAA (Stephenson is No. 5 at 6.3 points per game allowed, Tucker is No. 7 at 8.2).
Tucker leads DeKalb in rushing with 368 yards per game and has the county’s two leading runners in Yusuf Minor and Dallas Rivers. Stephenson, led by Evans Jones, is second in the county with an average of 264.
So who wins? And how big will it be when the winner meets M.L. King later this season?
This should be a great one.
Here are some of the other games in Class AAAAA this week that will have playoff implications:
*Northgate at Creekside: Northgate won a region title in 2011 but is off to a 2-4 start against a difficult schedule after last week’s close loss to 4-AAAAA favorite Whitewater, but a victory against Creekside would put the Vikings back in the playoff hunt. Creekside would all but clinch a spot in the region play-in games with a victory.
*Rome at North Paulding: If East Paulding and Allatoona finish in the top two spots in 5-AAAAA, as many expect, then this game is likely to determine the third- and fourth-place teams. Rome and North Paulding are in good position for playoff berths after beating fifth-place Hiram.
*Clarke Central at Heritage-Conyers: Clarke Central will be short-handed for its 8-AAAAA game against Heritage after five players, including quarterback Cameron Johnson, were ejected from last week’s game against Salem and have to serve a one-game penalty. Heritage probably needs to win this game if it has any hopes of finishing higher than fourth place in the region.
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115 comments Add your comment
6AAAAA Fan
October 12th, 2012
8:28 am
He has some legal issues to deal with, does anybody know if he’s still on the team?
Mays Maniac
October 12th, 2012
8:33 am
I remember Yusef Minor at Drew Charter in Atlanta he played Flag Football and was unstoppable. This kid is a raw talent plus a smart kid. He will be Yusef Minor no matter WHAT!!!!! Don’t expect nothing less and it does start at 7:29 please believe he will be SHAKING THE TABLE ……. Thanks for the win last night Mays Raiders aginst Arabian Mountain. My apology for not attending . I was at Lakewood supporting KIPPWays Academy ( Marquez Bailey #31 my cousin) doing his thang it was their Homecoming and they played a great game aginst Carver(Atl) that ending in a tie game
let’s Go Quezzzzz!!!! Man Washington J-V played the early game and Shook the table aginst South Atl. Washington is the program that is growing in talent and skills. But on the behalf on the game tonight , Tucker & Stephenson …… Tucker will be my pick and only because I know what they are made of , they like a Mac Truck start to finish!!!!
Tucker DAD
October 12th, 2012
9:17 am
@JAB, You make my point EXACTLY!
“Stephenson has been playing in big games every year”, Right and they have not won any of them! Let me refresh your memory…. last year you lost to MLK 49-50, lost to Lowndes 0-7, in 2010 you lost to MLK again 24-26 and to Hilgrove 23-28, in 2009 you lost to Colquitt 20-21 after a undefeated season, might I add you were a 1 seed and they were a 3 seed.
So say what you will but I have my facts straight. You have under acheived, under performed and over sold your team every year since I have been reading these blogs but I choose to ignore it since you were in a different class, but not this year! I understand being a fan and I respect that of you but when you just carry on with this BLIND reckless support that’s another thing! Stephenson has failed to live up to the HYPE every year and you FANS(fanatical) keep making excuses every year. STOP MAKING EXCUSES and just win!
We don’t wan’t to hear about how many players going D1, we don’t want to hear about how many players are playing professional football, we only wan’t to hear about what this team is going to do this year. If you can’t do that then BEAT IT and stay off the blog!!!!
6AAAAA Fan
October 12th, 2012
9:30 am
#2 Yusef Minor has been dismissed from the team for violation of team rules….oh boy!
C
October 12th, 2012
9:41 am
I heard Yusef Minor will not be playing this evening but one man does not carry a whole team… GO TUCKER TIGERS……….
Laser
October 12th, 2012
10:24 am
Minor is not playing
arabia rams
October 12th, 2012
10:26 am
We’ve played the following:
Stephenson – Loss 28-18
Tucker – Loss 39-20
Miller Grove – Loss 21-20
MLK – Loss 24-6
Mays – Loss 30-15
Toughest opponent of the above was Mays! Really flying under the radar!
We should have beaten both Stephenson and Millergrove. Played MLK well for all four quarters.
Tucker game was really a blow out though we surprised them with a few early touchdowns. They adjusted well. Tucker is fast, the most physicial team by far of any of the above, and well coached.
Prediction for tonight’s Tucker vs Stephenson game: Tucker 21 Stephenson 7.
Maxy
October 12th, 2012
10:28 am
Really Tucker Dad? Really you were doing good stating the facts about the Jaquars, but at the same time, Stephenson has faced much larger and experienced competition. I say this because most of your players grew up with the Stephenson , Redan or MLK players , yet for some reason are playing for Tucker, or Parkview… Time to seperate the perpetrators and see who can make it in their own home town.
Decatur 4 Life
October 12th, 2012
10:29 am
Tucker DAD
I agree with you but to a certain extent, Stephenson hasn’t had any luck in big games but it only takes one big win to start the cycle. Like I already heard someone say Tucker hasn’t always won the big games maybe recently but it all had to start somewhere, I can remember during the early to mid 90’s Tucker had great teams but continued to fall short once the playoffs started. Just ask all world running back Patrick Pass and company about losing to Columbia his junior year and we weren’t even supposed to be on the same field with them. My point is winning the big games had to start somewhere maybe it was Coach Stephens that turned it around for them but maybe this is the year Stephenson does what it hasn’t done for the only Coach the school’s ever had. I’m not even a Stephenson fan just a Dekalb fan!
Maxy
October 12th, 2012
10:31 am
Arabia Rams. you shouldve beaten who? were you at the game , you guys are not ready, stay in your lane your a rookie team , sit back and watch, before you even try to compare with the big guys. Now you all really have too many going both ways, you have maybe 2 athletes going further in football, Just be patient your time will come, but its not now…not at all
Maxy
October 12th, 2012
10:33 am
Maybe you dont know everything as you think you do, Dec 4 Life- Tucker Dad, take a second look tonight, watch and learn, the old days are gone. Live for now, the past is best left there
dekalbcounty football
October 12th, 2012
10:33 am
I was at the MLK-Dunwoody game. The official crew was horrible, they call back 4 td’s. Please review the telecast or game film! They made bad calls due to being out of position. Don’t worry playoff teams will not see this crew maybe in the stands?
Tucker DAD
October 12th, 2012
10:35 am
@Decatur 4 Life, I hear you but we are talking about the hear and now RIGHT??? So if that is what we talking about then what do you think will happen?
Camden74
October 12th, 2012
10:37 am
Tucker Dad……OUCH! Take your foot off of JAB’s neck! He can’t help it…..
Decatur 4 Life
October 12th, 2012
10:47 am
Maxy & Tucker DAD
C’Mon Man! Referring to the past to say championship tradition starts somewhere, no need to get sore about it. Tucker’s won 2 state titles in the last 5 years and that’s a great accomplishment but before then how many??? I’m living in the now but Stephenson’s now could be tonight so who knows, that’s my point.
Tucker DAD
October 12th, 2012
11:10 am
@Decatur 4 Life, I respectfully disagree with you. You are not living in the now because if you were you would know that right “now” Tucker is the defending AAAA State champion, and right “now” Tucker has the longest winning streak in Ga., and right “now” Tucker is ranked #2 which is a head of Stephenson at #4. Now you said, and I quote “I’m living in the now but Stephenson’s now could be tonight so who knows”, when you used the word “tonight” that insinuates that you are talking about the future because “tonight” has not happened yet!
ALL TUCKERRED UP
October 12th, 2012
11:40 am
@ TUCKER DAD You need to go to THE LOCAL 7 & get you a shoot of something. We don’t want you to peak to early. We need you for the game !!!!!!
Maxy
October 12th, 2012
11:52 am
LOL LOL !!! I gotta work, See you all later
Mr. Johnson
October 12th, 2012
11:57 am
Its amazing how every year you guys count MLK out, saying they won’t be this team, won’t beat that team and they eventually beat them. Same has been said about Stephenson the past two years and you see Stephenson demorilized and then vanish after the first round of the playoffs. MLK is making mistakes, but they are still winning ball games and granted they can’t keep making mistakes and expect to win. They will beat Tucker and will beat Tucker pretty good.
ALL TUCKERRED UP
October 12th, 2012
12:08 pm
Mr. Johnson I’m glad your team finally pulled ahead of Dunwoody !!!!Trailling at half time?
Tiger4Life
October 12th, 2012
12:13 pm
@All Stephenson posters
Tonight you will see the greastest show on turf AKA The Kings of Dekalb BKA The MIGHTY TUCKER TIGERS !!! Get there early, get some popcorn and get a good seat.
@Mr. Johnson
Just wait your turn to step on the field with the MIGHTY TUCKER TIGERS… We will be taking the Jags out to the woodshed tonight
5 down and 10 to go
WE ARE TUCKER
Run With Us or Run From Us (literaly)
rwdekalb
October 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
Weren’t Stephensen and MLK among the leaders in the state for receiving the most transfers.
Decatur 4 Life
October 12th, 2012
12:33 pm
Tucker DAD
U still don’t get it, I’m aware that Tucker has the state’s longest win streak and that they’re the defending state champion but that doesn’t mean they’re going to win. If that was the case it would never be a such thing as a upset, streaks are great but they’re meant to be broken that’s just reality.
Don’t make it seem like I dont like or respect Tucker, I’m just saying I don’t see how yall can be so confident against a team you haven’t played in a real game.
arabia rams
October 12th, 2012
12:35 pm
@ Maxy – That’s exactly my point. We have roughly nine players going both ways and Stephenson only beat us by ten points. It was less than a touchdown game going into the fourth quarter. Our guys just tired.
And, you’re also correct in that we don’t have the number of D1 athletes that Stephenson has yet Stephenson doesn’t have the caliber of “student” athletes that we have either.
I’m sure most of the Stephenson players that don’t make it to the NFL will one day work for the Arabia kids!
Tucker is clearly the better team!!!
Mr. Johnson
October 12th, 2012
1:09 pm
rwdekalb,
If you want to be technical about transfers the leaders in the state were South Gwinnett and Brookwood and if you want to bring up Dekalb schools, the leaders were Stephenson with 30 AND Tucker with 29 and this is not just a football report, its an all sports report, so make sure you do your research before you post. I’m taking Tucker over Stephenson tonight and MLK over both of them in back to back weeks.
KING IS HERE
October 12th, 2012
1:55 pm
Tucker will defeat Stephenson by 10
Chris
October 12th, 2012
2:21 pm
Tucker vs. Stephenson on the net tonite 7:30 pm
http://www.ghsa.tv/tucker/events/39850
5AReg6Fan
October 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
To the Stephenson Fans
Just came upon a pack of hungry looking Tigers, off LaVista Rd, leaving a den named “Tucker High School”. They made their way to E. Ponce and took a right. They traveled about a mile and ½ and made a left on S. Indian Creek. After marching and growling, (it sounded very freighting), about ½ mile and they turned left on College in front of this open air jungle, named James Hallford Stadium, many may know as Memorial Stadium. At this point, this proud and very confident Tiger (the others call Coach Lamar), who was leading the pack, stopped and turn to the others and with a very stern and aggressive look in his eyes and with a earth shattering growl, said to his boyz…”Tonight I give you a special treat…Tonight we feast on Jaguar meat”. And with one quick motion and teeth snarling, they leaped of the fence…I couldn’t count them all, because it was done so effortless and as one unit (some call a team); it must have been 45 or more. Let me say this, those Jaguars named Stephenson might not want take this hungry pack of Maroon & Gold Tigers lightly, after what I have witness, now and in the past. And that’s the end of this story. (LOL)
JAGUAR NATION WELCOME TO THE TIGERS OF TUCKER JUNGLE – This game must be played for ALL four quarters, let up and you want be able to catch up!!!
“WE ARE TUCKER” – 20 Consecutive Wins, with Stephenson being victim #21
REGION 6, the best in GA 2012 5A Football……
WarEagle
October 12th, 2012
3:00 pm
@stephensonfinest531 — “this ain’t marist . .this stephenson”. That’s right, don’t be confused — Marist is the one with the state titles.
Tiger4Life
October 12th, 2012
3:14 pm
LOL, Your right WarEagle, I was thinking the same thing. Are you coming to the game?
rwdekalb
October 12th, 2012
3:19 pm
@Mr Johnson. Stephensen might need you to do some research for them after tonight to help them figure out what just hit them.
rwdekalb
October 12th, 2012
3:20 pm
@WarEagle. LOL. Hilarious but soooooo true.
WarEagle
October 12th, 2012
3:27 pm
@Tiger4Life — wish I could, but will be watching my War Eagles take on Lithonia at Hughes Spalding Stadium. I’m pulling for our friends at Tucker though!
5AReg6Fan
October 12th, 2012
3:40 pm
@Tucker DAD – We Tigers fan have designated you as the spokesman for keeping JAB in line. Keep letting him know 5A fans know a thing or two about this class and he is a newbie. Well done and well said my fellow Tucker fan.
@arabia rams – Good posts. I attended three of the games you mention and my analysis would have been the same on these games. Keep the faith, the Rams are a new school and team with potential and just needs time to build. Playing in this region can grow a young football team up quickly. At this time, Arabia Mtn has scored the most against the #2, soon to be #1 team in 5A – Hats off to them.
@dekalbcounty football – I hope the GHSA hasn’t penciled last night’s MLK-Dunwoody officials for tonight’s BIG CAT showdown…would be a shame, the stripes marred this expected epic.
@Mr. Johnson – Good to heard quality posts from fans that support their team. Your Lions get their opportunity at auditioning for the lead role, Nov 2nd. It had to be a concern for all MLK fans, when the team in the region, that will probably win 1 game (North Atlanta), has the lead going in the half and yet, the Lions still have Stephenson and Tucker left. Tucker’s game plan, and you may not be familiar with this, is full speed…peddle to the metal, from quarter #1 to #4 on ANY opponent.
“WE ARE TUCKER” – 20 Consecutive Wins, with Stephenson being victim #21
REGION 6, the best in GA 2012 5A Football……
Coach madden
October 12th, 2012
3:57 pm
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5AReg6Fan
October 12th, 2012
4:14 pm
FYI
There is NO worry from the Tucker camp on #2 not participating in tonight’s demolition of Stephenson. Tucker has a stable of well qualify thou breeds awaiting the opportunity to show case their potential…watch out from a sophomore to show his talent against the Jags. Man, those speedy Tigers just keep coming year after year after year. (LOL)
@WarEagle – Congratulations with your victory over the Bulldogs of Lithonia…yes, I said it before the game is played. Hope your War Eagles keep the game from being a route…say a 30+ victory and not a 50+ victory. (LOL)
“WE ARE TUCKER” – 20 Consecutive Wins, with Stephenson being victim #21
REGION 6, the best in GA 2012 5A Football……
5AReg6Fan
October 12th, 2012
4:30 pm
Out of here….on my way to the Big show in DeKalb…
Who will reign supreme at 11:30 pm? Answer follows:
“WE ARE TUCKER” – 20 Consecutive Wins, with Stephenson being victim #21
REGION 6, the best in GA 2012 5A Football……
BcS2010
October 12th, 2012
4:48 pm
I love the blog for the tucker vs Stephenson game!!but Stephenson fans need to learn to respect tucker… Of course you think u will win and thats great but don’t talk down on tucker like we’re not on 20 game win streak lol
JAB
October 12th, 2012
5:24 pm
Man Tucker DAD, Camden74, 5AReg6Fan, etc. I wish you guys stop talking about the past this is a new year Stephenson coaches, community & kids are well aware of their past history! They have no fear of Tucker and are ready to play! I hope to be the first to post here on AJC that I TOLD YOU SO!!! Mark my words: Stephenson Will Win, I approve this message….
JAB
October 12th, 2012
5:28 pm
@ BcS2010, if you look at the post you would clearly see that Stephenson fans are not talking down Tucker, it is Tucker fans talking about their win streak and Stephenson can’t win the big game, I am just defending what you guys are posting about them (Stephenson). Tonight will tell the tale. The team with the “S” on their chest will win & by the way Stephenson will win the band battle, hands down no competition!!!
Sticks
October 12th, 2012
5:51 pm
Why so much Stephenson hate?!?! And last time I checked… Hallford stadium BELONGS to Stephenson!!
Go Dekalb!
October 12th, 2012
7:45 pm
Watch out Jaguar fans; I think the same refs from the MLK vs Dunwoody game are at Hallford stadium tongiht. Called back a touch down, way after the play…smh.
eagle1
October 12th, 2012
10:33 pm
Looks like the Tucker Tigers lost tonight. Stephenson must have a great team or either Tucker was over rated!
scooby
October 12th, 2012
11:01 pm
I can hear a pin drop in here. Where are the Tucker folks who talked trash all week? Come out wherever you are. Man up!
Dylan
October 12th, 2012
11:05 pm
I have been saying for a while that Tucker is overrated. They are a good team but for years, they have looked much better then they actually are because they have played mediocre teams. This is a rebuilding year for Stephenson and they still beat a “stout” Tucker team. If im not mistaken I believe I read that most of Stephensons players were underclassmen….
Tucker played Lovejoy for state!!! If Lovejoy and Tucker played in the division Stephenson and MLK played in last year it is no doubt in my mind they wouldn’t have made it that far. Tuckers biggest divisional rival was SWD and Stephenson DEMOLISHED SWD 32-0.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe Tucker and Stephenson are top teams in Dekalb BUT Tucker has just been overrated
uwillbtuckedaway
October 13th, 2012
12:05 am
Good game Stephenson. Congratulations.
Perhaps we are over rated.
We’ll have the rest of the year to prove otherwise.
WE ARE TUCKER!
uncleJunior
October 13th, 2012
12:39 am
Congrats Stephenson!!!! Good game, good victory.
Keep your heads up Tucker!!!!! You have nothing to feel bad about.
MIGHTY LION KING
October 13th, 2012
8:48 am
You know the worst thing about propping your team up too much…its to see them lose .. Im guessin TIGER4LIFE,TUCKERDAD,etc had a hard pill to swallow after watching this game.. But hey its cool, we all take losses.. SHOTOUT to the Jag fam for doing there thing last night..Now prepare to take on THE KINGS OF HALLFORD STADIUM!!!!
LION NATION/ THE DOMINATION!!!
BigD
October 13th, 2012
8:59 am
Wlhere are the Tucker fans this morning??? I was at the game last night. A great game played by two well coached teams. It lived up to the hype. I tell everyone that this Stephenson team is not the same team in the past years. Our offence philosophy has changed. We are not the same old running team as in the past. We are balanced now.
BigD
October 13th, 2012
9:13 am
reggie ball is not going to make a difference because stephenson last night only throwed the ball on 3rd down the whole game. But believe when i say tucker will beat stephenson the next time tucker had opportunity to win they fumbled the ball twice on the goal line. TUCKER NATION .