The Stephenson Jaguars are 9-0 on the season and ranked 4th in the latest Atlanta Journal Constitution 5A Top 10.   For over a decade, Stephenson has been one of the premier programs in the state of Georgia.  Since the Dekalb County school opened in 1996, the Jaguars have qualified for the GHSA playoffs for 12 consecutive seasons and during that stretch amassed a record of 117-26 dating back to the 2000 season.  Although Stephenson has never won a state championship, the Jaguars reached the state semi-finals in 2005 going 12-2.

The M.L. King Lions are also 9-0 on the season and ranked 5th in the most recent AJC5A Top 10.  Since M.L. King High School opened in 2002, the Lions have developed into Stephenson biggest rival.  In the 10 years that M.L. King has been playing football, the Lions have reached the GHSA playoffs nine straight seasons going 88-20 during that stretch.   M.L. King has also come close to a state championship, advancing to the state semi-finals in 2004 in just its third year of existence. 

This will be the 6th all-time meeting between the two rivals with Stephenson leading the series 3-2 although the Lions were 26-24 winners last season.  The winner of this game will be the GHSA 5A Region Two champions and will be one of eight number one seeds when the state playoffs begin next week.  On top of all this, this is a huge recruiting game.  Stephenson is one of the most talent-rich football programs in the entire nation with 10 BCS conference commits in its senior class.

In the Huddle Hero Watch

Stephenson

4-star Mike Davis - committed to Florida - 6 RB in the nation, 85 player overall nationally

4-star DT Jafar Mann - committed to Florida

4-star DE Jarontay Jones - committed to Virginia Tech

4-star ILB Raphael Kirby - committed to Miami

3-star SAF Kyle Fleetwood - committed to South Carolina

3-star DT Carlos Hood - committed to South Carolina

3-star OLB Darreon Herring - committed to Vandy

3-star WR Demarcus Sweat - committed to Kentucky

3-star WR Shawn Blaylock - committed to Kentucky

3-star TE Josh Parris - committed to Syracuse

3-star OG Steve McKenzie- committed to South Alabama

OT Nicholas Gibbons - committed to Memphis

RB T.J. Moon - committed to Florida Atlantic

LB Amos Harper - committed to Samford

OLB Kadeem Murray - offered by Houston, Tulane

M.L. King

4-star DE Kenderius Whitehead - 23 offers (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee considered the front runners)

3-star WR Blake Tibbs - committed to Georgia

Safety Jarnor Jones - committed to Middle Tennessee