M.L. King 24, Tucker 17
In the end, the arm of Monquavious Johnson was too much.
The senior threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns to lead Class AAAAA No. 2 M.L. King to a 24-17 win over No. 5 Tucker.
The victory clinches the Region 6 title for M.L. King (9-0, 8-0). It’s the Lions’ third consecutive region championship.
The Lions led by just a touchdown late in the third quarter, with Johnson scrambling behind the line and looking downfield.
Suddenly, Romello Shumake broke deep, and Johnson slung it toward the end zone, connecting with the junior for his only catch of the game, and it proved to be the difference.
It was Johnson’s third touchdown strike of the evening, and his second of 42-plus yards. The first of those went to Demarquis Polite-Bray, who finished with five catches for 77 yards and two scores.
On the next Tucker possession, it appeared the Tigers (7-2, 6-2) might go quietly after MLK took a two-touchdown lead.
Tucker was facing a second-and-22 on its own 34-yard line, with quarterback Juwaan Williams facing pressure up the middle. He stood his ground and threw the ball up for grabs to the MLK 21, where Kazim Aminu wrestled it away from a Lions defender to put the Tigers into scoring position.
It just took one play for Williams to take advantage, hitting Dallas Rivers for the touchdown, and it was suddenly back to a one-score game with 53 seconds left in the third quarter.
But Tucker got just one fourth-quarter possession, and MLK was able to run out the final 4:37 when the Tigers handed the ball back to them on downs.
The first half was dominated by the offenses, as both teams had long scoring drives early to set the tone.
M.L. King started it off with a 12-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a 32-yard field goal. Tucker answered with its own 13-play march, capped off by a Juwaan Williams touchdown run that put the Tigers in front.
The teams traded scores for much of the first half, en route to a 10-10 tie. But they had very different ways of getting there offensively.
While the Lions made their hay through the air – 126 passing vs. 5 rushing – Tucker was just the opposite, amassing 88 of its 102 total yards on the ground.
Tucker senior lineman Ian Rigby was carted off the field with an injury in the third quarter, after lying on the turf for 15 minutes. No more was known on his condition at press time.
T 0 10 7 0 – 17
M 3 7 14 0 – 24
M – Presley Bray 32 FG
T – Juwaan Williams 14 run (Steven Duffy kick)
M – Demarquis Polite-Bray 42 pass from Monquavious Johnson (Bray kick)
T – Duffy 33 FG
M – Polite-Bray 5 pass from Johnson (Bray kick)
M – Romello Shumake 43 pass from Johnson (Bray kick)
T – Dallas Rivers 21 pass from Williams (Duffy kick)
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170 comments Add your comment
Tiger4Life
November 3rd, 2012
10:57 am
@GET IT DONE
I had to get some sleep last night, if I had look at this blog I would have never went to bed.
@6AAAAA Fan
I hate to criticize coaches because they never call a play thinking it’s not going to work. I think it’s just expectations are so high any miscue or questionable call will have you second guessing a call.
I think defense played good, just 2 mental break downs that gave up easy touchdowns.
I think the play that decided the game was the fumble on the one.
JAB
November 3rd, 2012
11:45 am
@ Tiger4Life What do you mean “Stop riding the coat tail of MLK”, MLK & Stephenson has been going head to head every since MLK has open up! the series is tied 3 – 3, Both schools are top quality teams and has beaten several to Schools in the state’s highest classification. In the beinning of the year for pre-season Stephenson tied N. Gwinnett at top ten AAAAAA. The only thing they both haven’t done yet is win a state championship! This is there 1st year, the play0ffs hasn’t started yet! Tucker fans are just mad because you have the BIG CATS TO TEND WITH NOW that Marist is gone. GET USE TO BEING THE 3RD OR 4TH BEST TEAM IN REGION 6AAAAA. Again let me remind you Tucker fans STEPHENSON 13 TUCKER 6 & MLK 24 TUCKER 17 Take lost like a true champ you baby cubs and go eat your crow! YOU HEARD ME… I”M OUT****
BcS2010
November 3rd, 2012
11:49 am
The difference in tucker offense this year is they don’t run the option as much. They still use the wing t offense but with Stephens as the coach the ran the option out of the wing t a lot. This makes no sense to me because Tucker’s QB is there best player and he would strive in the option. Tucker uses there wing t this year to run simple handoffs and there defense missed ALoT of tackles last night. That number 2 from MLK never got tackled from the 1st defender.
Dekalb all the way!!!
November 3rd, 2012
11:50 am
@BcS2010…Even if Miller Grove beats MLK, the standings will be a follow; 1. MLK, 2. Stephenson(head to head because they beat Tucker), 3. Tucker, 4. Miller Grove(most likely). MLK is undefeated so they have no region losses. All of the other teams have at least 2 region losses, so if MLK loses to MG, they will still only have one region loss. I heard they may not play many of the starters, which may hurt the ranking, but not the playoff seedings or the home field through out!
Dekalb all the way!!!
November 3rd, 2012
11:54 am
@BcS2010, I can agree with what you said, but also know that MLK big back was only in for 2 plays before he rolled his ankle. That’s a big difference maker in their running attack. That slowed them down tremendously last night!
TVs
November 3rd, 2012
12:08 pm
Congrats MLK players and fans. With that said, that undefeated regular season won’t mean anything if you lose in the second round of the playoffs. It would be nice if someone else brought a state championship back to Dekalb.
dekalbcountyfootball1
November 3rd, 2012
12:21 pm
Congrats! MLK on Region Champs! To everyone who that says we have not won the state champioship. We only play 1 game at a time……
G-dub
November 3rd, 2012
1:12 pm
After a good nights sleep I log on this morning and can’t believe Dboy Scott was still talking trash. Man you wrong for disrespecting Queen’s Mommy like . What time did you go to bed. Tucker lost so be a good sport and congradulate MLK. @ Queen’s Mommy…You have some very good comments on here and don’t let someone like Dboy get to you. His opinion only reflects how small his conversation is.
Doc1
November 3rd, 2012
1:14 pm
MLK is 4-3 vs Stephenson
BcS2010
November 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
If MG beats MLK I still don’t see y y’all are saying Stephenson will be number 2. MG,Stephenson and tucker would all be 8-2 with each team beating one an another and losing to one another lol. But this is my point if MG wins against MLK tucker will get the number 2 seed due to point spread my friends. Due your research lol but this is all if MG beats MLK
MIGHTY LION KING
November 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
@Bcs2010 jus askin so hope u dont get offended but r you routing for Miller grove to pull an upset over Mlk?
MIGHTY LION KING
November 3rd, 2012
1:40 pm
@ jab-aye man hate to be the bearer of bad news but we got yall 4-3 in the mlk/shs series
Tiger4Life
November 3rd, 2012
1:51 pm
@JAB
Like I said, stop riding MLK coat tail. They are the Region champs, 2nd place is just the first loser !!!
I have never in my life haerd anyone bragging about coming in second place. Sounds like a true “loser syndrome” to me. Like your taking your natural place behind MLK, I just don’t get it #smh
Stephenson has TWO losses same as Tucker. The playoffs is where HERO’s are made.
DEFENDING CHAMPS
WE ARE TUCKER
Run With Us or Run From Us
Football Fan
November 3rd, 2012
2:14 pm
Now Tucker stop with this you ain’t got a championship stuff. It took your school over 58 years before you got your first, so I think Stephenson and MLK has a little time. Don’t you thank so.
rwdekalb
November 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
Mays can make a big statement today with win over Stephensen.
Mr. Johnson
November 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
Tiger4Life
Glad to see you showed up today… Didn’t I tell you what was gonna happen to Tucker. You had to know that MLK was gonna throw all over them. Even with #1 at Safety and #2 back on offense, they were no factor. They couldn’t play the pass and they couldn’t blitz like they wanted to at all. MLK took everything they wanted to do completely away….
MLK ALL DAY
November 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
MLK is here to stay.
Raider4Life
November 3rd, 2012
3:34 pm
Mays will beat Stephenson, they can’t stop the pass and that’s what we do. Their offense is very, very predictable. Mays 35-21
Tiger4Life
November 3rd, 2012
3:36 pm
@Mr. Johnson
MLK did ok with the pass, but It wasn’t easy. They earned every bit they got. It was a tough game, a lot of hard hitting and fighting for extra yards.
Now lets see if Stephenson can get past Mays and who will win between SWD and Miller Grove.
Bizarro
November 3rd, 2012
3:48 pm
Wow Wow Wow!!!
BcS2010
November 3rd, 2012
4:07 pm
@ MIGHTY LION KING… Lol I am pulling for MG so tucker can get the 2 seed lol but really I just wanna see 3 dekalb teams in the final 4!! I pray for tucker vs Mlk rematch because it was a great game to me!!
JAB
November 3rd, 2012
4:11 pm
All I will say again to (ALL) the Tucker fans, is Stephenson 13 Tucker 6; MLK 24 Tucker 17, shut up or put up! and I’m not riding on MLK shirt tails, all I’m saying is the big cats are here now in region 6AAAAA and Tucker nation will not have an easy ride no more, one big game a year against Marist you guys have never seen Valdosta, The Georgia winniest HS Football program for state championship, Camden County, Brookwood, Lowndes, Parkview & N. Gwinnett only SWD & Dunwoody can talk, but they are silent on this blog. Tucker has never done anything until they got stephens (& where did he come from, **Camden County).. Again Tucker Kitty cats go eat your crow and stop acting meowing, grow up and then’ I will call you a full grown Lion!! THE BIG CATS ARE HERE TO STAY… Regardless of what happen the rest of the season Stephenson & MLK has made their claim in region 6AAAAA, NOW AFTER THIS WEEK LETS US ALL COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT THIS REGION , WE ARE THE BEST IN THE STATE, LET’S PUSH FOR AN ALL DEKALB COUNTY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP JUST LIKE TUCKER & MARIST 4 YEARS AGO ‘YOU HEARD ME!!
Bizarro
November 3rd, 2012
5:15 pm
Bizarro back at ya!! Lets talk about last nite a little. Tucker loses another game this season to MLK the self proclaimed KINGS of DEKALB!!! Tucker lost to Stephenson earlier this season also. Now you can’t live in the past but until YA”LL WIN STATE TITLE’S HUSH!!! If I’m not mistaken winning a state title means winning games outside of DEKALB!! Some of you all mind set is so simple KINGS OF DEKALB please win when it counts!! Stephenson win was their Super Bowl ; MLK win now they the KINGS OF DEKALB so what!!!!! Now let me explain how playoffs go 1st round easy you play a fourth seed typically not good; 2nd round about the same(upsets can happen); 3rd round all the trash has been taken out; you have to practice on Thanksgiving Holiday (distractions); you may have to travel into a hostle atmosphere where they calling you the N word; 4th and State you playing DAWGS they all GOOD!!! Watching the game if not mistaken Tucker shut down the run (YOU MUST RUN THE BALL TO WIN A STATE TITLE) passings the ball is cute ; but Tucker tapped out #33 bless his heart he talked so much noise during pre game. When MLK started running the ball the game was pretty much done!! Throughout all this Tucker is still in the mix!! Bragging rights in Dekalb ya’ll can have all you want I rather be recognized as State Champs being Fitted twice that means when the ring guy comes and sizes your fingers which finger you want to wear your ring!!!! Tucker 15-0 team had 20 plus seniors alot of experience you suppose to win with that (still 15-0 is a helleva task); this year 1 starter on defense; 3 starters on offense they definitely taking their lumps they suppose to!! And again Tucker is still in the mix. I was hearing so much about this being BIG BOY football with Steph and MLK playing previously in 5AAAA. Please show me evidence were they DOMINATED that classification!! You must understand why schools are in the classification they’re in( school population) sometimes classification is overrated when comes to football. Question for the people that really understand this and not about the hype of being KINGS OF DEKALB you don’t think BUFORD would kick ass in any classification?? Why cause they dress just out as many as 5AAAA or 6AAAAA schools. Someone stated you win one game at a time. True statement but you must win BIG GAMES when they really count!!! Let’s see how well these teams are COACHED UP MLK and Stephenson are when regular season is over. WE ARE TUCKER BIZARRO I’m out!!
Lion 4 life
November 3rd, 2012
5:32 pm
Bizarro u wrote an essay 2 say nothing!! U and the rest of Tucker stop making excuses ok!! Suck it up ok! Also#33 was playing on a bad ankle anyway and y’all couldn’t stop us so what that tell u about your defense!! Remember one thing now you playing with the big boys messing with Stephenson and MLK get your weight up and then holla at us ok!! Peace Region Champs 3peat!!
Tiger4Life
November 3rd, 2012
5:32 pm
Again @JAB you guys LOST to Milller Grove, MLK are the region Champs!! Stop bragging about being in 2nd place.
Bring home the Hardware for your schools trophy case. Better yet, just make it to the DOME.
Remember, if your not in 1st place, your losing;-)
JAB
November 3rd, 2012
5:43 pm
@ Tiger4Life, we beat you guys! man stop talking about Stephenson Lost to Miller grove, MG is not a push over MLK had a time with them and you have yet to feel their rage.. Come on man take your lost like a true champion, You were not better than MLK or Stephenson this year! I win is a win. Dboy Scott and the rest of you are on here talking about Stephenson beat you only 13 to 6; if you guys had beaten MLK 25 to 24 it would have been a different story: alirght You heard it from JAB, I’m out gotta get to that Stephenson Mays game, “AND YOU KNOW THIS MAN!!!”
Stop Making Excuses
November 3rd, 2012
5:53 pm
Tiger4Life,Dboy Scott and all the other Tucker fans, stop complaining your little TIGGERS can not measure up to Stephenson and MLK. You would have been beaten by MG if they wouldn’t have made so many mistakes that night. Heck if SWD had an offense they would have beaten the TIGGERS of Tucker this year.
Ms Queen of the Kings
November 3rd, 2012
5:56 pm
This comment is only for Bizarro,first of all you didnt tap out #33 he hurt his feet at the dunwoody game thank you very much and you dnt have not one single man on that team that can handle him i meant boy.by himself because he is a beast so leave him out of this.yall ass lost now move on.
Bizarro
November 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
AWWWW!! I love it!! Ms Queen of the Kings take up for #33 no talking is necessary to win!! How you going to say stop making excuses about Tucker and #33 hurt his ankle from previous game and that’s why he didn’t finish the game!! All Ya’ll still at the end of the day win some TITLE’S!! Big Boy football get to the Semi’s. No complaining about the “Tiggers” hilarious. To JAB if Tucker had won Great but our goals every year is to play regular season games to prepare for the playoffs and coach the kids up. And to you Stop Making Excuse you just made one for Miller Grove!!! Hell we can say the same about Stephenson we made mistakes all game PENALTIES will kill you!! And to all ya’ll one question how many RINGS YOU WEARING THAT SAY’S 2008 STATE CHAMPS and 2011 STATE CHAMPS?? It won’t go away its in the past but many have them as a reminder that we are recognized in the history books the best !!! As JAB stated I’m out to watch Stephenson and May’s play. Oh Lion for Life 3peat Region Champs get to the Dome in December then get back at man!!! Because to all of ya’ll and Tucker Northside Warner Robbins pretty pissed!!! BIG BOY’S Please
stdno2man
November 3rd, 2012
7:12 pm
I’ve seen all the teams. MLK has the best team in 2012. I see them as the flag ship team for 2012 DeKalb football. Besides NSWR I think they have a chance to win it all.
Stephenson beat Tucker but I think they’re about even. Depending on how they are seeded I would give Tucker the edge as far as how far they go in the playoffs. Tucker went 15-0 and won a state title in 2011 and two in the last 4 years so until someone wins a state title Tucker has the best program in DeKalb. Stephenson as a program is equal to Tucker but some whatever reason hasn’t been able to finish the deal. Prayerfully Gartrell will get one.
Tucker lost too many seniors for expectations to be as high as they are. The change in Tucker’s coaching staff has to be evaluated but not this year. Coach L has to be given the same leeway as Stephens when Stephens lost to NSWR in the Dome. They are both good coaches who have to receive support during rough stretches.
TuckerFan
November 3rd, 2012
8:28 pm
Tucker-2 Stephenson-0 . As a program that is all we have to say. Nothing more. Congrats MLK and good luck to the rest of your season we appreciate your winning with class.
Tiger4Life
November 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
Can someone please tell me what excuses I made 0_o it’s not the first game Tucker lost and it won’t be the last.
The simple fact that everyone keep bringing up the fact that MLK and SHS beat Tucker let me know how highly regarded we are in the county and in you guys eyes. I don’t see anyone bragging about beating Dunwoody or SWD.
Everyone keep saying Stephenson is 2nd best in the county when they don’t play consistent enough to win a against Miller Grove. And I never seen anyone so happy about being MLK little brother. I guess since you guys as so use to losing to them every year.
No Hardware, No Respect!!!
Bring home the Cup or STFU
Dekalb all the way!!!
November 3rd, 2012
8:37 pm
I guess MLK can now show you how great you Tigers are not because you won in a lower classification. There is no way in hell you would have beat Camden Co., Grayson, Valdosta, etc…I will save the rest of my comments for when we have our ring in hand. Since Tucker is holding on to the past!!! I’ll let you kittys play in your kitty litter!!!
KeithMLKfan
November 3rd, 2012
9:04 pm
Great win last night Lions,it was a very tough and physical game….Observation on my part about Tucker;I saw y’all play Stephenson and thought the same thing then, your offense is too predictable. to easy to tell by the way you lined up if it was a running play or a passing play,with the talent y’all have you could be much more dangerous.Seems to me your OC needs more diversity, he’s not using the talent he has to its potential…..
stdno2man
November 3rd, 2012
9:13 pm
The NSWR program that beat Tucker in the dome moved up the next year and beat Camden. After two years they dropped down and Tucker beat them on the way to the 4A championship last year. Stop with the 4A versus 5A. Miller Grove was 4A last year and beat Stephenson this year. Beat whoever is on the schedule and win a championship at any level and you’re to be congratulated. Even if it is true it doesn’t explain why the 5A programs in DeKalb didn’t beat who was on their schedule. It’s a bad testimony to say “poor us we had to play camden, and grayson, and …”. Don’t play the victim. That said MLK is this year’s flagship so we need for them to go and get it done.
KeithMLKfan
November 3rd, 2012
9:15 pm
Someone on another blog said the Father of the young man who was hurt last night is gonna be fine, they kept him over night for observation.
JAB
November 3rd, 2012
10:48 pm
Stephenson 28 Mays 27; they (Stephenson) show heart tonight by pulling this win out! It was a very physical hard fought battle and guess what coaching won the game…
Ms Queen of the Kings
November 4th, 2012
12:03 am
Enter your comments here
Ms Queen of the Kings
November 4th, 2012
12:10 am
@Bizarro Iam not taking up for #33 its the truth.I dnt need to make excuses for him at all.you know he is a beast truly.Now let it go.
Queens' Mommy
November 4th, 2012
12:12 am
Miller Grove and SWD final score please.
mikepete24
November 4th, 2012
12:18 am
Whichever team falls last in the playoffs will be considered Dekalb’s best. A region championship is NOT the big prize. All the Dekalb teams have issues and very good teams in the playoffs will find those issues and take advantage.
mikepete24
November 4th, 2012
12:20 am
SWD 16 – MG 7, now what does that say about the region???
Bizarro
November 4th, 2012
12:37 am
For Ms Queen of the Kings It’s all good. I don’t agree. The fullback for Tucker (Dallas Rivers) is a beast on both sides of the ball and just a Junior. stdno2man you sound like you have some good sense about football and not about hype !! Your statement is Dead On “Beat whoever is on the schedule and win a championship at any level and you’re to be congratulated.” Did you hear that Jab??? For KeithMLKfan the Tucker player went home last nite he is fine. Thanks for your concern. Oh yea JAB Stephenson and May’s really wasn’t a physical game throwing the ball around doesn’t constitute being physical. May’s couldn’t block Stephenson up front until they made blocking adjustments by putting an H-back or fullback in to help with protection; also moving the pocket because May’s QB was a sitting duck back there against that rush!! Learn some football my friend really not park ball or gaming systems.
Bizarro
November 4th, 2012
12:46 am
mikepete24 you also sound like you have sense. What this says about our Region is that were beating each other up!! These teams are very athletic but being athletic doesn’t win championships!!! As I stated earlier today in one of blogs when you get to the 3rd round your better be coached up WELL in all phases Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Oh yea if you want to find out how good a team is WATCH THEIR SPECIAL TEAMS!!!! May’s lost because of special teams tonite or at least go into overtime.
King Of Diamonds
November 4th, 2012
1:01 am
Either way it goes Region 6 5-A will be represented in well In the State playoffs. Good luck MLK, Stephenson, MLK, &?. Make sure you are not the team elimanted first.
Ms Queen of the Kings
November 4th, 2012
1:40 am
@Bizarro It dnt matter if you agree or not.and he is also a junior and play both sides of the ball ,now what.and im done talking about him move on
True Blue
November 4th, 2012
4:54 am
What is wrong with SHS and MLK playing in ther right CLASSIFICATION. Understand this Tucker sore losers both schools could of have played in your region when your team won them 2 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, but chose to play up in the largest classification. If you are so mad about them playing in their right classification, you can blame the county for KING, but SHS chose too stay in 5a. Its playoff represent the county well, as of the games last night looks like all of the CATS are in. MLK, SHS, TUCKER and SWD. When SWD lost to MLK and SHS did they act like Tucker know they took their lost with class. They didn’t act like you guys. People wouldn’t be talking so much about Tucker if you guys wouldn’t brag about beating both SHS and MLK in scrimmage. Which we told y’all its was just a scrimmage play us in a regular season game where it counts. So, you lost to both schools this year and that’s it. Know hard feeling, its PLAYOFF and go out there and represent your community and county
Whoknew?
November 4th, 2012
8:24 am
Had no idea that some Tucker fan were such cry babies. When y’all won state most Dekalb fans were happy for you all for representing the county well. But as soon as you all moved up to 5A many of you posters came in talking much trash like you were going to automatically steam roll Stephenson and MLK instead of just coming in and proving yourselves on the field in the this division and letting the events speak for themselves. Any team can lose. Take it like a grownup and move on. Posters being sore losers is a really a bad look.
Whoknew?
November 4th, 2012
8:39 am
Had no idea that some Tucker posters were such cry babies. When y’all won state in 4A most in Dekalb were glad to see Tucker do well representing the county. Check the blogs. Then y’all moved up to 5A and many of your bloggers got so excited that they immediately started trash talking everyone, especially MLK and SHS. Acting like you were going to steam roll everyone in the division when had never even been tested. On any given weekend, any team can lose. Take it like the grownups that you say you are and move on. Being a bitter sore loser = not a good look. Definitely not a good example for the kids out there playing hard on the Tucker football team.
JAB
November 4th, 2012
9:32 am
@ Bizarro, Like I said the Stephenson Mays game was very physical from the beginning to the end, it is true they both teams have speed and talent on both sides of the ball, both had many weapons, and Stephenson coaching staff show me something that I have never seen since they beat Roswell in a State playoff game that they can come up with some good play calling to seal the victory. I AM SENDING A SHOUT OUT TO THE ENTIRE REGION 6AAAAA ABOUT 70% OF IT’S TEAM ARE TOUGH THIS YEAR, IT SHOULD BE ONE GREAT PLAYOFF RUN TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO (ALL) GO MLK! GO STEPHENSON! GO TUCKER! GO SWD! GO MAYS! GO MG! GO ARABIAN! ETC. KUDOS TO ALL…