Southwest DeKalb used its mighty defense, some sparkling special teams play and some coaching ingenuity to score its best win of the season, a 33-19 win over No. 9 Decatur.
The Panthers were without starting quarterback Ryan Sadir and moved receiver Sabian Campbell, perhaps the team’s best athlete, to quarterback, where he was able to manage the game and run the offense -- in spite of a steady rain that seemed to pick up the the Panthers had the ball.
But Campbell’s main influence may have been at strong safety, where he intercepted two passes and returned both for a touchdown. The second pick came inside the final two minutes after Decatur, trailing 20-19, had recovered an onside kick.
SWD also had to move Billy Johnson, its leading rusher, to cornerback, as the Panthers had three corners injured in the game.
The other impact came on special teams. SWD blocked two punts – one from De’Shon Tutt and one from Milton Smith. Caleb Kenard recovered one and returned it for a touchdown.
“One of our coaches noticed their punter took a long stride and we thought we might be able to do something with that,” SWD coach Damien Wimes said. “After we blocked those two kicks they started going for it on fourth down.”
The win puts Southwest DeKalb (5-4, 4-1) into position to be the No. 2 seed from Region 5, if it beats Northview in the season finale.
If No. 8 St. Pius beats Decatur next week, the Golden Lions will win the region and SWD will be second. If Decatur defeats St. Pius, there will be a three-way tie.
In other games around the state:
Region 1: No. 5 Warner Robins outlasted Coffee 22-7 and will be the second seed. Coffee scored first on a run by Brady Skipper, but Warner Robins got a field goal from Daniel Barber and a touchdown pass from Christon Lane to Daveon Walker to go up 10-7 at the half. Touchdown runs by Malcolm Brown and Fred Perry put the game out of reach for the Demons. … No. 4 Ware County secured the regular-season championship by outlasting Veterans, 28-21. A long touchdown pass from Thomas Castellanos to Jarvis Hayes put the game away.
Region 2: Harris County defeated Griffin 35-28 to set up next week’s game with Whitewater to determine the region championship. Whitewater got past Northgate 23-12. … Starr’s Mill hammered rival McIntosh 42-0, with Marc Stampley returning the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and adding an interception and a touchdown catch.
Region 3: No. 2 Creekside defeated Jonesboro 27-7. That sets up a winner-take-all game for the region title against No. 5 Woodward Academy, which beat Tri-Cities 49-7. Woodward’s Damari Alston ran for two early touchdowns to set the pace for the War Eagles.
Region 4: Jones County and Dutchtown both won, meaning next week’s game between the two teams will decide the regular-season title. Jones County overpowered Woodland 69-26, while Dutchtown defeated winless Locust Grove 26-7.
Region 5: St. Pius blew past Stone Mountain 51-0 and can win the region next week by beating Decatur.
Region 6: Villa Rica won the region title by taking down defending champion Villa Rica 31-10. The Wildcats, under first-year coach Tim Barron, claimed their first region title since 1998.
Region 7: Cartersville nailed down the region championship by defeating Calhoun 21-14. Amari White ran 26 times for 172 yards and caught a touchdown pass to pace the No. 1 Purple Hurricanes. Malachi Jeffries and “Big Play” Jacob Ray scored the other touchdowns. Christian Lewis and Cole Speer hooked up for a long touchdown pass and Caden Williams scored on a run for Calhoun.
Region 8: Clarke Central, which has already clinched the region title, beat rival Cedar Shoals 42-21 in a rescheduled non-league game. Will Richardson ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns, quarterback Lucian Anderson ran for two scores and the Gladiators got a pair of defensive scores, a fumble return by Dailen Howard on an errant field goal try and a pick-six from Malachi McNeill.. … Jackson County beat Greenbrier 42-27 to give coach Rich McWhorter his 300th career win and put the Panthers into position to make the playoffs with a win at Apalachee in the final game.
