As the decade nears its end, the Tucker-Marist rivalry is making a case that it has been metro Atlanta’s best since 2000.
They are the only region rivals in Georgia that have won more than 100 games apiece this decade. Each has a state title. Marist is 105-18. Tucker is 104-14.
Seven of Marist’s 18 losses – including a 15-3 decision in last year’s Class AAAA title game – have come to Tucker. Three of Tucker’s 14 losses have come to Marist. They are 199-22 when not playing each other.
“It’s a top-notch rivalry as far as the state goes,” said Marist coach Alan Chadwick, whose team plays Tucker tonight at Adams Stadium in DeKalb County. “Both are very successful programs, and we match up each year, sometime twice a year. It’s whoever plays the best and at that particular time.’’
Most recently, Tucker has had the edge, winning five of the last six meetings. Marist won the regular-season game 38-0, but Tucker won in the state final 15-3.
Neither head coach believes his team is playing at a championship level yet. Tucker returned only three starters on each side of the ball from a team that went 14-1 and won the school’s first state title.
“I can’t pull the inexperience card, but most of them haven’t played in the magnitude of game they’re getting into this week,’’ Tucker coach Franklin Stephens said. “From a talent perspective, we’re not quite where we were. We had some exceptional kids in the backfield. We’ve got to block better because last year those backs didn’t need as much.’’
Those backs were Jonathan Davis, who signed with Central Florida, and Drayton Calhoun, who signed with LSU.
But there is evidence that Tucker is blocking a little bit because running backs Tyrell Poole (325 yards rushing), Rendell Wilder (305) and Devn Scott (239) each average more than seven yards a carry.
On defense, defensive Quenton Brown is a Central Florida commit, and linebacker James Vaughers is a junior linebacker with several ACC and SEC offers.
Marist is 3-1 and ranked No. 10. Its loss came to St. Pius 28-3 in the opener, and there have no opponent since that could confirm if that was a fluke.
Andy Perez struggled in his first start as quarterback in Marist’s wishbone but threw touchdown passes last week against North Springs.
Chadwick says his team still has some holes.
“I’d rather not say where those holes are,’’ Chadwick said. “We just have some concerns about players playing not as well as they’re supposed to be playing. We’ve got to finish and tackle better and keep from giving up the big play, and that [the big play] is what Tucker does best.’’
MARIST AT TUCKER
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Adams Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: Marist is 3-1 overall, 3-0 in Region 6-AAAA and No. 10; Tucker is 4-0, 3-0 and No. 1.
-- Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily
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