Grayson Edges Out McEachern, Bounces Back From Week One Loss

The Grayson Rams traveled to McEachern High School, in Cobb County Friday night, for a clash of champions type brawl. A battle of Top 10 teams in the staet of Georgia, with planty of star power, on both teams.

The Grayson Rams (ranked #1 in the State, 14th nationally) were battle tested last Saturday evening, with their loss to powerhouse IMG Academy, out of Bradenton, FL. Looking to have a bounce back week, it wasn't going to get any easier for the Rams. They came into the game a bit banged up, but also got a star player back from suspension.

The McEachern Indians (ranked #11 in the state) are coming off of a by-week after winning their season opener in the Georgia Dome two weeks ago. They defeated the Archer Tigers at the Corky Kell Kickoff Classic very convincingly. But Head Coach Kyle Hockman of the McEachern Indians knew that this Grayson game wasn't one to come into and not play to their full capabilities.

It was a tough test for both offense to get any type of run game tonight, as both defense were very stingy to begin with the games first score came from Grayson's RB Kurt Taylor (Michigan Commit), with a 1 yard dive, into the end zone, midway through the 2nd qtr. McEachern then answered with a 55-yard punt return from Tyler Smith (North Carolina Commit) to make the score 7-7.

The ensuing kickoff, The 4-star “Mega Athlete” Jamyest Williams (South Carolina Commit) give his Rams awesome field position with a HUGE kickoff return, after the Tyler Smith punt return. Rams QB Chase Brice (Clemson Commit) steady marches his team down the field for a field goal right before the half, making the score 10-7.

The 3rd qtr belonged to the Grayson defense, lead by 4 star LB Breon Dixon (Uncommitted), who had a very heavy amount of pressure on the “Pass Happy” McEachern offense. Breon had 3 QB sacks, and a plethora of QB pressures, along with that daunting Grayson Rams defensive line. McEachern had a good rhythm going in the later part of the 3rd qtr, but that rhythm was haulted up by a Jamyest Williams Interception, picking off McEachern QB Bailey Hockman (Florida State Commit), which again set his offense up with great field position. But the offense stalled once again, and settled for a field goal. The field goal gave Grayson a 13-7 lead.

The 4th qtr couldn't have started any better for the McEachern defense, with a PICK SIX from 4 star Safety CJ Miller (Southern Cal Commit). Making the interception from a deflection off the Grayson WR, and putting the Indians up 13-10. The extra point try was no good by the Joneil Roque. Grayson and McEachern traded punts and horrible field position for most of the 4th qtr, until Grayson comes away with a field Goal, tying it up at 13. McEachern QB Bailey Hockman made a late and costly mistake that gave the ball back to Grayson, in their own territory. 5 star DB Deangelo Gibbs (Uncommited) playing WR broke free on a screen pass, and puts the Rams deep in McEachern territory.

Needless to say Grayson pulled out a 16-13 victory over the Cobb County powerhouse McEachern Indians, with a game-wining field goal with :02 seconds left on the clock.

I caught up with McEachern Head Coach Kyle Hockman after the game and asked him, “to sum up tonight's game in a few words, he stated that, “it was a heavy weight bout. 2 of the best teams in Georgia going head-to-head, what do you expect? They just got the better end result.”