This Saturday, Grayson and Newton will face off in a game that has already been postponed twice. Originally scheduled for September 27, it was first delayed to Monday, September 30, due to Hurricane Helene and then postponed again due to a biochemical plant fire in Conyers.
The matchup will serve as the region championship, with both teams currently 4-0 in region play and expected to be 5-0 when they meet, as Grayson faces 2-6 Heritage-Conyers and Newton plays 1-7 Grovetown.
Grayson enters on a seven-game winning streak, with their sole loss coming in a close 20-19 matchup against 7A No. 5 Collins Hill in Week 1. Since then, the Rams’ defense hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in any game, while their offense has hit its stride, averaging 49.67 points per game in region play.
Grayson’s defense has been the backbone of the team, featuring a wealth of elite talent with no apparent weaknesses. The defensive line is among the best in the state, led by three elite seniors in Joseph Mbatchou, who recently decommitted from Florida, Andre Fuller, a Georgia Tech commit, and Josiah Victor, committed to Boston College. The linebacker corps includes top juniors, 4-star Anthony Davis and 5-star Tyler Atkinson. The secondary boasts high-level players as well, including Indiana commit Jaylen Bell and sophomore Rilee Drew, a lockdown cornerback with offers from Auburn and Tennessee. Together, they make the Rams’ defense tough to score on no matter how good the opposing offenses are.
Offensively, Grayson is as formidable as ever, balancing a strong passing game with a dominant rushing attack. Junior quarterback Travis Burgess has been steady, making smart decisions and contributing as an additional runner. The ground game is powered by the pair of Elijah Miller, an experienced senior, and Joel Bradford, a promising sophomore with offers from Georgia and Auburn. The duo leads an offense supported by a solid offensive line anchored by 4-star Texas commit Nick Brooks.
Newton, on the other hand, is riding a four-game winning streak. The Rams’ three losses were all to quality teams, including Eastside, now ranked No. 5 in 4A, Douglas County, a top 6A team, and East St. Louis, the No. 1 team in Illinois according to MaxPreps.
Like Grayson, Newton’s roster is filled with players bound for FBS programs. The defensive line features two Massive interior linemen in 6-foot-3, 275-pound UCF commit RyShawn Perry, and 6-6, 290 pound, Christian Ingram who has offers from Georgia, Clemson, and others. In the secondary, 3-star defensive backs Zachary Harden, a Minnesota commit, and East Carolina commit Bernard Lackey lead the unit, putting pressure on opposing pass games.
On offense, Newton relies on its running game, led by Cincinnati commit Zion Johnson, who has amassed 1,498 yards and 11 touchdowns in eight games and freshman phenom Kevin Hartsfield, who has offers from the likes of Ole Miss and Tennessee, has contributed 521 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on just 28 carries. In the pass game junior quarterback Deron Benson has been highly efficient, completing over 60 percent of his passes for over 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns with only two interceptions.
The game will likely be decided in the trenches. Both teams feature massive defensive lines and solid offensive lines, and with each team’s focus on the rushing game, establishing the run will be crucial. While both teams have efficient passing games, neither has dominated through the air. If either quarterback can step up and have a big game, it could be the deciding factor.
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