A new era for Lithonia football
The Lithonia High School Bulldogs roared back in 2025, finishing 10‑3 and tying for the second‑most wins in school history. After a lone victory in 2023, the team surged to a ten‑win season, capping the run with a trip to the state quarterfinals — the first such appearance since 1984.
Head coach Kevin Barnes, who took the helm in 2024, guided the Bulldogs to a 6‑4 record in his debut year and instilled a belief that the program could compete with the state’s elite. Under his leadership the team shifted from a reliance on individual highlights to a cohesive, grind‑it‑out identity.
The voice of a new culture
Senior receiver Armani Myco summed up the change, noting that the squad moved from thinking about personal stats to embracing collective responsibility. “We stopped worrying about who gets the ball and started worrying about who needs the ball,” he said, a mantra that has resonated throughout the locker room.
The transformation has rippled beyond the field, reshaping school spirit and student engagement. Alumni and parents have turned out in larger numbers, and the Bulldogs’ success has sparked a renewed pride that many say is long overdue.
Although the Bulldogs fell to eventual state champion Creekside in the quarterfinals, the experience proved that the program is now a legitimate contender. With a core group of players who have grown together since their freshman years, the future looks bright for a team that is already hungry for the next challenge.