The No. 3 Dekalb Yellow Jackets (5-1) are rolling, after an opening weekend setback to the defending state champion Georgia Seminoles, Coach James Lowery and the talented ‘Black Ops’ squad have ran off five consecutive victories. Coach Lowery has been at Browns Mill Park for the last 22 years leading talented SEC stars such as Andrew Thomas and Aaron Sterling back in their younger days. His Black Ops 10U team won their league last year and ultimately reached the B2C state semi-finals finishing the 2017 season 19-1.
“This has been over a three year process. All of my kids have been together for three years. We’ve developed their skillsets and improved in our schemes. We have a really good football team.” said Coach Lowery. “Our goal is to make it to the B2C Championship game and win it”.
DYJ has scored a league best 207 points this season, averaging over 34 points per game. This offense is as versatile as any 11U team in Georgia under offensive coordinator Naaem Noble. DYJ mixes formations and the run/pass very well. “Our offense is one of the most explosive and dynamic in the state. We lead the MAYFC in points scored by keeping teams off balance,” said Coach Lowery.
DYJ is led by a dominant core of players known as the big four, their starting running back and linebacking core. Chance “Debo” Armstrong, Boden “Bo” Walker, Darrell “Monster” Cummings, and Sureese “Bam Bam” Peterson all set the tone offensively and defensively as the play-makers on each side of the ball. Debo Armstrong and Bo Walker lead the team offensively rushing and receiving out of the backfield. Quarterback DeMontae Harris is making strides at the position and leading the offense down the field with consistency.
“Cummings is an extremely physical running back and linebacker. He dragged five to six kids into the end-zone last year. That’s why we call him a monster.” explained Coach Lowery. “Walker is that kid your momma told you about. There goes that man again. He’s the fastest kid on the team. He’s a track guy, but his hands are sick. They’re ridiculous. He’s elusive and if he gets in open field he’s going to break it. Armstrong has excellent hands out of the backfield as well”
DYJ was named B2C Team of the Week on September 29th in a dominant 28-6 victory over No. 10 East Metro. Cummings led the team in rushing yards in the win. The big four were each named B2C Defensive Player of the Week after an outstanding shutdown performance shutting down a talented Steelers offense.
No. 3 DYJ defeated North Atlanta Giants 35-0 in their last game before their bye week. Black Ops will square off against the No. 12 ranked William Walker Oomp Squad in the last game of the regular season. Walker upset the top ranked Georgia Seminoles 14-13 earlier in September.
~By Cody Butler
