Credit: Keson Graham.

As one of the oldest programs in the state, which has played football in some form or fashion since 1914, Decatur enters the season riding the momentum from last year’s regular season coupled with a sour taste from a first-round exit in the playoffs.

William Felton has coached at Decatur since 2020 and in that time, he has amassed a 36-18 record and won Decatur’s first region title (2022) since 2004. Marking his first head-coaching job in Georgia, Felton has initiated a turnaround in the program and led the Bulldogs to the playoffs in each season with second-round appearances in 2020 and 2022 and a first-round loss last season after finishing 9-2. That was Decatur’s best finish since the 13-1 season in 2003 under coach Steve Davenport where the team fell in the semifinals.

Once one of the more successful programs in the state, from 1930 to 1953, Decatur won 15 region titles. That streak includes nine-consecutive region titles from 1945 to 1953 with back-to-back state championships in 1949 and 1950 under head coach Charles Waller. Decatur lost just one regular season game last year, against Woodward Academy on October 25 before falling to Dutchtown in the first round 48-14. The Bulldogs will have to weather the graduation of quarterback Barron Scott, who was 112-of-196 passing for 1,376 yards and 15 touchdowns, but its leading rusher returns in junior Darius White, who had 141 carries for 1,012 yards and 17 touchdowns. White also had 11 catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

Head Coach: William Felton

Coach Record: 36-18

2024 Record: 9-2

2024 Region Record: 6-1

2025 Region: 4-5A

Stadium Name: Bulldog Stadium

2025 Schedule:

8/22 @ Greater Atlanta Christian

8/29 Carver-Atlanta

9/05 @ Stephenson (HS)

9/12 @ Chamblee (ND)

9/19 Arabia Mountain

9/26 Dunwoody

10/03 Shiloh

10/17 @ Lakeside-DeKalb (A)

10/24 @ Woodward Academy

10/31 Tri Cities


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