Grayson cruises their way to a big 7A win over McEachern

Photo Credit: Marietta Daily Journal

POWDER SPRINGS, GEORGIA—The Grayson Rams are not only one of the best teams in the state of Georgia year after year, but in the entire country year after year. This year is no different, as they are ranked inside the Top 10 teams in the country according to MaxPreps, and tonight they lived up to the hype.

The Rams were set to take on McEachern, who is also one of the best teams in Georgia and a 7A power. But the Indians took a tough loss to North Gwinnett last week, and Grayson took advantage tonight.

Grayson started out as expected, as De’yon Cannon launched a deep pass to Jaden Smith to put the Rams up 6-0 after 1 possession (PAT no good). After Grayson kicked the ball off, the defense showed that they can make an impact early as well. After a forced fumble recovered by Grayson, running back, Jamal Haynes, was able to run in to put the Rams up 14-0 (2-point conversion good). Haynes is committed to Georgia Tech.

McEachern wasn’t going to go away that fast, however. The Indians marched up the field, as quarterback, Bryce Archie, used his feet to pick up extra yards. McEachern running back, Rickey Motley Jr., capped off the great drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, and put the Indians on the board (PAT good). Grayson was on top 14-7 at the end of the first.

Cannon went to the air to start the second quarter for the Grayson offense, as he found Smith again for a 52 yard touchdown to put the Rams up 22-7 (2-point conversion good).

After the Grayson offense was shut down on their next possession, the defense picked up the slack, as Mumu Bin-Wahad picked off a pass from Bryce Archie, and took it to the house to put Grayson up 30-7 (2-point conversion good). Archie was able to lead the Indians down the field once again on their next possesion, and he found Sutton Smith in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown (PAT no good). After the final minutes of the first half went by, Grayson went into halftime up 30-13.

As the second half was ready to start, it was time for Grayson running back, Phil Mafah, to make some noise. The Clemson Commit started the third quarter with a 51 yard run to the McEachern 30 yard line. De’yon Cannon then found Jamal Haynes in the end zone once again to put the Rams up 36-13 (PAT no good).

McEachern still wouldn’t go away, as Archie completed a 45-yard pass Johmanuel Arnold to bring them to the Grayson 4-yard line. Sutton Smith then ran in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown (2-point conversion good). Once Grayson got the ball, Phil Mafah came up big for Grayson once again, as he went down the field for a 72-yard touchdown run (PAT no good). “I just saw a crease and was thinking score after that,” Mafah said. The third quarter ended with Grayson up 42-21.

The Grayson defense came up big to start the 4th quarter. Linebacker, Grady Bryant, recovered a fumble off a handoff and took it back 25-yards into the end zone (PAT good). On Grayson’s next offensive possession, Mafah showed his great speed once again, as he ran 66-yards for a Grayson touchdown (PAT no good).

Grayson ran out the clock from there to end the game, and the Rams picked up their second win of the season 55-21. “I feel like we really needed it to make a statement,” Phil Mafah said, “I think we did that.”

Grayson starts the season 2-0 with a big win over McEachern, and will play at home against Collins Hill on Friday, September 18th at 7 PM ET. “We’re thinking we have to go 1-0 again,” Mafah said, “We won’t take them lightly and we will do a lot of preparation throughout the week to get the W.” McEachern falls to 0-2, after playing two tough teams in a row, and will play Marietta at home next week on Friday, September 18th at 7:30 PM ET.