Southwest DeKalb and M.L. King are bordering school districts in DeKalb County, but they have played each other once, and they’re not in the same classification or region.
So what this game means to Southwest DeKalb coach Buck Godfrey is more symbolic than significant.
When M.L. King opened in 2002, it took a slice of Southwest DeKalb’s best neighborhoods and became a state power almost immediately.
Southwest DeKalb slumped, and some of its fans questioned Godfrey, the 27-year veteran whose 240 victories are the most of any coach in DeKalb history.
It got so bad that Godfrey’s wife stopped coming to games for a time.
“People saying I couldn’t cut it anymore ... why doesn’t he quit ... personal attacks on my character,” Godfrey said.
That’s one reason Godfrey is so fond of this season’s team. Coming off a 9-4 season in which it lost close games to state finalists and region-rivals Tucker and Marist, Southwest is ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA.
Unlike many coaches who don’t want the preseason spotlight, Godfrey embraces it.
“Our staff and community and players, they deserve it because they didn’t run away,” Godfrey said. “A lot of coaches and players left [after M.L. King opened and Southwest struggled]. We stuck it out and played with what we had. We took the slow backs and the fat boys, and we were respectable. It you endure through the night, joy comes in the morning.”
Joy comes in the form of a senior class full of college prospects, perhaps as many as 20 who will play college football.
T.J. Stripling, a defensive end, is a preseason Super 11 player who has committed to Georgia. Running back Kendrun Malcome also has committed to Georgia. Cornerback Jonathan Mincy (Auburn) and safety Sharod Golightly (Vanderbilt) also are headed to SEC schools.
M.L. King, ranked No. 8 in Class AAAAA, also expects to have one of its better teams. Mack Brown, who has committed to Florida, is among the state’s best.
King and Brown are friends, and the players on each team know each other well. Many others were students together at Salem and Chapel Hill middle schools.
“Most get along; some don’t, but they know each other well,” said Cory Jarvis, the coach at M.L. King. “Us being so close together with the underlying kinds of things that people know about — us taking a lot of kids from Southwest when we opened up, and coach Godfrey not too happy with that — that’s a little motive. He’s always picked at me about that.”
But it’s friendly, Jarvis said.
“Buck is Buck ... he’s going to speak his opinions,” Jarvis said. “It’s a good rivalry.”
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: Hallford Stadium, Clarkston
Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
