Friday's top high school games

By Chip Saye

For the AJC

Marist at Southwest DeKalb

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hallford Stadium, Clarkston

Records, rankings: Marist is 6-1 overall, 6-0 in Region 6-AAAA and No. 5; Southwest DeKalb is 6-1, 6-0 and No. 3.

Last meeting: Marist won 27-21 in 2008.

Three things to watch:

*Southwest DeKalb’s Ken Malcome is one of the county’s best running backs, averaging about 127 yards per game.

*Marist quarterback Andy Perez has proved capable of beating a team with his running or his passing.

*The winner takes sole possession of first place in Region 6-AAAA. Southwest DeKalb has games remaining against Tucker and Stone Mountain.

Tucker at Stone Mountain

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Adams Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Tucker is 6-1 overall, 5-1 in Region 6-AAAA and No. 7; Stone Mountain is 6-1, 5-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: Tucker won 37-6 in 2008.

Three things to watch:

*Tucker has a powerful running game, led by Tyrelle Poole, Rendell Wilder and Devin Scott, who rushed for 116 yards in a victory against Chamblee last week.

*Stone Mountain hasn’t started a season 6-1 since 2000 and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004.

*The winner moves into a tie for second place in the region with the loser of Marist-Southwest DeKalb game, while the loser falls into fourth place.

Dacula at Brookwood

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Brookwood Community Stadium, Snellville

Records, rankings: Dacula is 4-3 overall, 3-2 in Region 8-AAAAA; Brookwood is 4-3, 4-1. Neither team is ranked.

Last meeting: Brookwood won 9-6 in overtime in 2008.

Three things to watch:

*Brookwood was held to 48 yards rushing in its overtime victory against winless Central Gwinnett last week.

*Dacula’s defense, which allowed 28 points per game in the first five games of the season, has come up big the past two weeks, allowing six points total to Parkview and Shiloh.

*Brookwood has a rough stretch to close the season, facing Dacula, South Gwinnett and Parkview, all of which are playoff contenders.

St. Pius at Grady

When, where: 11 a.m. Saturday, Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Records, rankings: St. Pius is 7-0 overall, 4-0 in Region 5-AAA Div. B and No. 3; Grady is 7-0, 4-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: St. Pius won 28-7 in 2008.

Three things to watch:

*St. Pius has the second-ranked defense in Class AAA, allowing 6.3 points per game. Grady is tied for fifth, allowing 7.4 points per game.

*St. Pius’ powerful running game is led by Cole Moon, who rushed for 163 yards in the Golden Lions’ victory against Washington last week.

*The winner clinches the Division B championship and earns a spot in the region championship game, most likely against Dunwoody.

Produced by Chip Saye, Georgia High School Football Daily