Southwest DeKalb will look to affirm top ranking

By TODD HOLCOMB

For the Journal-Constitution

The last time Southwest DeKalb was No. 1 in football, its neighbor M.L. King didn’t exist. That was 2000.

Carved partly from Southwest’s talent-rich district, M.L. King opened in 2002 and became a state power almost instantly. Southwest had a losing season that year -- its first in 23 years -- and has been pretty good, but nothing special, since.

Until now, perhaps.

With its most talented team this decade, Southwest DeKalb will seek affirmation of its preseason No. 1 ranking Friday when it plays M.L. King, the No. 8 team in AAAA, on Friday at DeKalb County’s Hallford Stadium.

The game brings together several major Division I-A recruits, including Ken Malcome of Southwest DeKalb (who has committed with Georgia) and Mack Brown of M.L. King (committed to Florida). Both are running backs.

It’s one of two games this week involving ranked teams. The other has No. 10 Newnan of AAAAA against No. 4 LaGrange of AAA. Both made the semifinals in their classifications a year ago.

This week’s schedule also includes:

● Prattville at North Gwinnett: Prattville is a defending champion in Alabama. North Gwinnett is No. 6 in Georgia’s Class AAAAA. This is a Saturday game.

● Newnan at LaGrange: LaGrange is No. 4 in AAA. Newnan is No. 10 in AAAAA. This is a Thursday game.

● Peachtree Ridge at Harrison: Peachtree Ridge, ranked No. 3 in AAAAA, lost to Harrison last season before getting hot and making the state finals.

● Tucker at Brunswick: Tucker, the defending champion and ranked No. 2 in AAAA, travels faces a top team from the coast.

● St. Pius at Marist: It will be the first game on Marist’s new artificial turf. Marist is No. 4 in AAAAA.

● Griffin at Dunwoody: Griffin is No. 6 in AAA. Dunwoody, which finished 12-1 last season, is playing its first game under new coach Michael Youngblood, a former Tucker assistant.