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
BigD
October 13th, 2012
9:17 am
And jaguar fans dont get to happy because yall know stephenson does this every year . SO until they win a first round playoff game than yall talk so for right now shut up!
BigD
October 13th, 2012
9:20 am
2008 & 2011 AAAA STATE CHAMPS TUCKER still better than stephenson until yall get yall make believe ring.
2008, 2011 STATE CHAMPIONS
2007,2010 DEKALB COUNTY “TEAM OF THE YEAR”
REGION CHAMPIONS: 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007,2010, 2011
State Runner Up – 1963
State Semi-Finals: 1957, 1962, 1966, 1994, 2003, 2007, 2010
THE "CANNON RULES"!!
October 13th, 2012
9:29 am
Well say what you want about the HIRAM / EAST game…It was a “PINK OUT” night at HIRAM and both sides showed there spirit in support of this cause.
EAST was coming off a BYE week and had yet to play a team that had really tested their “D”, IT SHOWED they looked VERY sluggish at the start and the question of “could HIRAM score on EAST” was settled right at the start as HIRAM broke of a LONG run and put up 6 before folks were barely settled in the stands! They missed the extra point and led 6 to 0…the first team to score against EAST since the opening game with NORTH 5 weeks ago!
That seemed to wake EAST up and they drove back to go ahead for good 7 / 6 with a touchdown of their own. EAST put up several more TD’s and HIRAM had a field goal for the score to get to 28 / 9 at one point. A lot of HIRAM fans started to leave thinking another “blow-out” was in store BUT sloppy play on EAST part giving up the ball twice on turnovers gave HIRAM quick scores and with plenty of time left the score had closed to EAST 35 HIRAM 30!!!
SUDDENLY we had a BALLGAME!!! HIRAM has a big strong QB and #24 is just plain FAST!!! Between these two guys they made the EAST “D” miss all night!! If #24 got the corner HE WAS GONE! FAST!!!
The ref’s had several situations where they made mistakes none of which were game changers, on a HIRAM breakout run where #24 made his moves and was gone for a long TD the Ref had the flag in his hand ready to call an OBVIOUS holding but put the flag back in his pocket…????
Later in the game the refs game HIRAM two (2) chances to go for it on 4th down as they lost track of the downs and NEVER changed from 3rd to 4th until AFTER HIRAM ran the play…by the scoreboard and the chain marker it stayed at 3rd but in reality it was the 1st 4th down. They didn’t make it and ran a 2nd 4th down play!!!
Then late in the game east scored a TD…from about the HIRAM 25 / 30 yard line…Flag from a ref on the far side (HIRAM side) play called back, EAST scores AGAIN on the same play TD…play called back again (same Ref)…LOL! 3rd try EAST scores again!! This time no flag!!!
HIRAM kept coming back but the EAST “D” finally got a turnover as they intercepted and returned for a TD, EAST needed a game where they had to play 4 quarters and hopefully this will be a good game for EAST to look back at as they prepare for ROME this coming week in “THE BONEYARD”…
The shutout streak is over for the “D” but a win is a win…
the RAIDERS are still UNDEFEATED at 6 / 0!!! and the “D” is till averaging a VERY respectable 7.8 pts per game!!!
TICK…TICK…TICK…BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
GO RAIDERS!!!
DeeDawg
October 13th, 2012
9:31 am
With all the smack talking that 5AReg6Fan and others did prior to the game, the fact is the margin of victory should’ve been greater. Stephenson shut down Tucker’s heralded ground attack…smothered it. The only player on Tucker’s side who decided to play like a champion is their quarterback #1. Dude played hard to the very last few seconds of the game and single handedly kept it close. Although the refs blew the call on their only lucky score…the quarterback threw a touchdown strike on a busted play when he was clearly over the line of scrimmage. Refs missed it, but everyone else in the stands, coaches, and the TV highlights show it.
All that aside, this was a great game between two virtually even teams. Stephenson outplayed Tucker and won the game…plain and simple. I will end by saying Tucker played hard but was classy in defeat…there was no whining or foolishness after the loss. They showed class and respect at the end of the contest. I predict they will be a team to be reckoned with the rest of the season. This loss could very well be an impetus for beating the remaining teams on their schedule. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them demolish the rest of their opponents, including ML King.
BigD
October 13th, 2012
9:34 am
Tucker high school is a 100 years old and they have 2 state championships. Stephenson High School is about 16 to 17 years old. We will when a state championship in time and it want take us about 60 to 70 years to win one either.
BigD
October 13th, 2012
9:41 am
A GRIP AND WAYNE how long is it going to take before yall stop believing stephenson going to win a state chapionship. I mean its been almost a hundred years now.
BigD
October 13th, 2012
9:48 am
BIG D it dosent matter how long it takes to get one as long as tucker got one we will still be better than stephenson . But big d if you know your history tucker has been to more semifinals game than stephenson ever have.State Semi-Finals: 1957, 1962, 1966, 1994, 2003, 2007, 2010 now I bet you dont got that in yall trophy case. I mean come on yall can at least give the old man a ring before he die.
Really bro?
October 13th, 2012
10:17 pm
@BIGD- Tucker proved that they are NOT better then Stephenson. Yeah they won a state title but they never had to play Stephenson to get there. In actuality Tucker only won a state title because the teams they had to play on the way there were MEDIOCRE at best. I mean they played freaking LOVEJOY for a state title. Tucker wouldn’t have won state if they were in the division Stephenson and MLK was in last year! And you know whats funny? This is not considered a “great” stephenson team. This is one of stephenson worst teams in years, and they still shut down tuckers “STOUT” offense. Tucker DEFIENTLY wouldn’t have wanted to see Stephensons 2009 – 2011 teams.
Stephenson and MLK will run this division like we ran our other division. Tucker has never played with the big boys.
And to be honest Stephenson could have SHUT tucker out, they were playing conservative.
Stephenson and MLK are young schools they will get a title VERY SOON.
uwillbtuckedaway
October 14th, 2012
8:08 am
Can’t say Tucker is better than Stephenson right now in the current year when Stephenson beat us.
@Really bro? – Your logic is also faulty about our state Championship last year when Lovejoy has now moved up to the REAL big boy football which is AAAAAA.
In reality, there are solid teams that could compete in any division from AA through AAAAAA.
Tucker will be fine and a loss is never good but I’d rather it now than to experience what Stephenson seems to experience every single year and that is an early exit in the playoffs.
WE ARE TUCKER!!!!
uwillbtuckedaway
October 14th, 2012
8:19 am
By the way, this may be a down year for Stephenson but there are still several D1 caliber prospects on that team. Especially, #21 he is a stud of a good football player.
WE ARE TUCKER!!!!
Stephenson fan
October 14th, 2012
8:48 am
First off for all those who keep saying this is one of Stephenson worst team. I beg to differ, As I see it this is one of their best TEAMS. The key word is Team. Stephenson has had teams with much better players. But if you look at this team, there are no, (quote) super star and glamour boys trying to show off for the cameras. They rotate 7 D-lineman, 6 Linebackers, 6 Runningbacks and no crying by the kids, or parents. So when you folks out there call yourself putting down this TEAM, saying they’re one of Stephenson worst. Take another look, through a different perspective, then you will see one of Stephenson’s best TEAMS. And when you get a team, that is willing to play for each other and not themselves thats when it turns special. So keep your eyes open.
Stephenson Fan
October 14th, 2012
8:58 am
Also let` stop trying to tear down others accomplishments, folks keep saying you beat Lovejoy, as if Lovejoy could`nt possibly assemble a good set of players. Then folks say you had it easy, well people, there has been times when the stars aligned for Stephenson to head straight to the Dome, and they fell short. So you can`t take something away from another man simply to make yourself feel good, instead let`s go get our own. They did what we can do, play the team across from you (no matter who it is ) and beat them, the math is really simple.
uwillbtuckedaway
October 14th, 2012
9:02 am
@Stephenson fan – Excellent post!
And, I agree. I witnessed this at Tucker last year during our perfect season State Championship run! Many would have told you at the beginning of last year that it wasn’t the most TALENTED group especially compared to the 2010 team but the 2011 team was a TRUE team!!
We wish you guys the best and pray that we meet you again but this time in the Dome competing for your FIRST State Championship.
I have to tell you now though that I’d be pulling for us to win our THIRD!
WE ARE TUCKER!!!!
King Of Diamonds
October 16th, 2012
12:20 am
I would like to see the adjustments made after the win for Stephenson & Tucker after there lost. Will the Jaguars play up and even better for the rest of the season or will this one game define them and start playing down to the competition. Will Tucker regroup and play more relaxed football and get back on track or will this lost define there remaining games. Will MLK take advantage of the hype by people saying they are the best kept secret in the Region and run the table? Only the next 4 weeks will tell and the grand finale MLK vs Stephenson. Where it could come down to, two undefeated teams again playing for the region championship and number 1 seed.
5AReg6Fan
October 16th, 2012
4:34 pm
@DeeDawg – Yep smack was talked by me prior to the BIG CAT showdown on Oct 12th, but this talk was done on the side of both fans of these great football PROGRAMS. Stephenson got the well-deserved victory and congrates to JAGUAR NATION. I disagree with #1 being the only player that left it on the field for Tucker, all the Tigers played and lost as a team. You have to feel for the Tucker kids #5, who dropped a pass in the end zone and #25, who carried 5 defenders on his back for about 15-20 yrds and fumble before or after his knee was down. Every one of us keyboard athletes have their opinion and loyalty, but to say the margin of victory should have be greater, well you and I where at two different games. Either team could have won, Stephenson got the victory.
Again, a well-deserved win for the Jaguars and let’s represent the region doing playoff time.
“WE ARE TUCKER” – Still a BIG force in 5A
REGION 6, the best in GA 2012 5A Football……