…we will be live on 680TheFan/93.7FM/680TheFan.com…and because there is a doubleheader at the stadium tonight, we may not hit the air until a little later.

Tonight, it’s Stephenson versus Dunwoody from North DeKalb Stadium in Chamblee.

The Jaguars of Stone Mountain are perhaps the best 3-2 team in the state, having lost to perennial national power Central of Miami 21-20; and defending 5A Georgia champion Creekside 28-14, after leading 14-7. They’re 1-0 in Region 6, Division A, in the 5A classification; and they’re outscoring their opponents 162-68 (32-14 per game).

The head man, Ron Gartrell, is the only head coach in program history. Since the program started in the mid-90s, Stephenson has amassed a 156-58 record. That’s an average of 8.6 wins per year in 18 seasons. For some, the lack of post-season success, i.e. no state championships or title game berths, has been a point of contention. The Jags have reached five quarterfinals and one semifinal in program history; yet some have asked out loud if enough has been done with the incredible amount of talent this program has had. In 2012, the Jags had fourteen seniors sign major Division 1 letters of intent. That team lost in the opening round of the state tournament.

The 2014 version of the Jaguars has its usual squad filled with major Division 1 talent.

One of the top all-around athletes in the state, SR Nekyle Lundy, transferred in from Tucker. He is a Nebraska commit.

SR DL Chauncey Rivers, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior, was named first-team all-state in Class AAAAA last season after recording 108 tackles, 29 tackles for losses and 15 sacks. Rivers is committed to Georgia.

Even as a hybrid Wing T team, they have two wide receivers committed to major D1 programs. SR Dexter Neal is a four-star recruit according to Rivals and is committed to South Carolina. Meanwhile, speedster Isaiah Zuber is going to Kansas State.

Finally, Khalil Ladler, a Junior DB, was honorable mention all-state for Class AAAAA in 2013, when he intercepted six passes. Ladler is rated the No. 5 overall prospect in Georgia and No. 3 cornerback nationally in the class of 2016 in 247Sports’ Composite rankings.

On the other side, a once proud Dunwoody program is trying to return to the playoffs after a recent tough stretch.

Currently, the Wildcats are 3-2 overall and 0-1 in Region 6, Division A, in the 5A classification. They too are outscoring opponents, although the margin is a scant 108-98 (22-20 per game). They have not reached the playoffs since 2009, and the last two years have been as bad as any in program history. In 2012, they were 1-9, and last year they started 0-4 on their way to a 3-7 season.

They are led by fifth year Head Coach Jim Showfety, who has posted a 19-26 record.

Lack of not just talent, but also depth, has been the double edged storyline for the Wildcats the last few years. In this region, as they are attempting to build both, they feel as though they can reach the playoffs.

Tylor Scales and Daniel Hinton have combined for over 700 yards and eight touchdowns.

SR OL Nick Buchanan, 6’4-265, has offers from ODU and UAB, and has had talks with Georgia Tech; and SR “Athlete” Chase Hawkins, 6’0-185, is a big play waiting to happen, averaging 20 yards per reception.

There is no question, with the lack of strength in the region, if Dunwoody can pull off an upset or two, they can reach the tournament. Their loss last week to Druid Hills may have done them in. If they lose tonight, as the odds are against them, they MUST find a way to defeat two of the three teams on their schedule before the play-in game. The Region standings are below.

Stephenson leads the all-time series 3-1, having won the last three meetings. In the last two years, the Jaguars have won by a combined 102-13.

6-AAAAA Div A                        Region             Overall

Southwest DeKalb                      1 0 0               3 2 0
Stephenson                                  1 0 0               3 2 0
Druid Hills                                   1 0 0               3 2 0
Dunwoody                                   0 1 0               3 2 0
Miller Grove                                0 1 0               3 2 0
M. L. King                                   0 1 0                0 5 0
Clarkston* (Non Region Schedule)

6-AAAAA Div B

Creekside                                   1 0 0                 5 1 0
Carver, Atlanta                         1 0 0                 5 1 0
Mays                                           0 1 0                 4 2 0
Tri-Cities                                   0 1 0                 3 2 0
Banneker                                   0 0 0                0 5 0