GAME OF THE WEEK: Southwest DeKalb at Tucker

October 29, 2009 - 5:22pm

The Georgia Public Broadcasting/Score Atlanta Football Fridays in Georgia webcast game of the week for Oct. 30 will be between Region 6-AAAA rivals Tucker and Southwest DeKalb, two successful DeKalb programs that will be looking to put another feather in their caps on the season.

Southwest DeKalb, No. 3 in the GHSF Daily/Score Atlanta top-10 poll in Class 4A this week (behind undefeated Griffin and Westside-Macon), were looked at as the preseason favorite to win the classification and have a nearly unmatched grouping of Division I talent. Tucker is coming off a state-title season but experienced heavy losses on both sides of the ball over the offseason. However, the Tigers have more than enough big-time playmakers to stay with SWD in this Tucker home game. Tucker holds a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series, with two straight wins. The Tigers are ranked seventh in the classification.

Southwest DeKalb’s roster is stacked with next-level talent; in fact, longtime head coach Buck Godfrey has remarked that this may be the most talented team he’s had since his state championship squad of 1995, and that he hopes for 25 seniors to sign with colleges after the season. Leading the way is running back Ken Malcome, a Georgia commit who can run with power and break the big one. On defense, the Panthers strike fear into their opponents’ hearts with DE T.J. Stripling, a big, quick pass-rusher that is also committed to Georgia. On Tucker’s side, the defense is again what Franklin Stephens’ team hangs its hat on. DE James Vaughters is one of the most highly recruited junior prospects in the country, and has helped the Tigers stifle the competition. Tucker’s only loss came in the form of a second straight regular-season blowout loss to Marist, putting them at 5-1 in the league. Southwest is undefeated in region play, but also dropped the opener; the Panthers lost a heartbreaker to top 5A team M.L. King, 13-9.

Coverage of the game begins at 7:15 p.m. at gpb.org/football/watch, so be sure to tune in to the free webcast for all the action. The archived video can be accessed at GHSA.tv any time after the event.