Tucker defeats Southwest DeKalb

By S. Thomas Coleman

For the AJC

Everyone knows about Tucker’s “Big Three” seniors — linebackers James Vaughters (Stanford commit) and Justin Garrett (Auburn), and safety Chris Sanders (Georgia).

But Tiger head coach Franklin Stephens said before Friday night’s opener against Southwest DeKalb that another senior trio is ready to step forward as well. And quarterback Norman Hayes, running back N’Quan Maggett and defensive end Ramal Davis didn’t disappoint.

Hayes and Maggett combined for four touchdowns as part of a first-half offensive surge, and Davis helped anchor a defense that didn’t yield a first down until almost halftime as the Tigers beat Southwest 50-19.

Sanders got things rolling when he intercepted Andre Wilson’s pass on the Panthers’ second play from scrimmage. Two plays later, running back Bashir Coles scored.

Tucker went on to convert three consecutive defensive three-and-outs into 21 points. Hayes scored on a 1-yard run, Maggett did the same on the next drive, and then the two hooked up on a 49-yard touchdown pass to run the score to 28-0 early in the second quarter.

Southwest showed a little life when senior Moses Charles took the ensuing kickoff and zig-zagged 95 yards for a touchdown. But Maggett answered with a 95-yard touchdown return of his own. Two more short touchdown runs by Coles made the score 50-6 at the half.

Stephens repeated that old coach’s axiom after the game: “You never play as well or as bad as you think you do in a game like this.” But he said next week’s opponent — Marist — will be enough to keep his club grounded. The Tigers have lost to Marist the last two seasons by a combined score of 70-7.

“We have strong senior leaders on this team,” Stephens said. “I hope they can help the team realize that we have a long road ahead of us.”

Meanwhile, Panther head coach Buck Godfrey found it hard to describe the worst loss of his 27-year career at the school.

“In the end, this isn’t on the kids. I put this one on me,” Godfrey said. “This is harder than just X’s and O’s. Our intensity just wasn’t there. I still think this is a good team. We’ll make [the state playoffs]. This one game won’t stop us.”