High School

Grayson (GA) defeats Thompson (AL) 15-14 in overtime

After being upset in Week 1, Georgia power Grayson got back on track against one of the best teams in Alabama

Tyler Cleveland

The Thompson Warriors will be looking to latch onto a season-opening win when the face Georgia power Grayson, which visits Alabama after dropping its opener last week.
The Thompson Warriors will be looking to latch onto a season-opening win when the face Georgia power Grayson, which visits Alabama after dropping its opener last week. / Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

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LIVE UPDATES: GRAYSON (GA) AT THOMPSON (AL)

PREGAME

6:30 p.m.: We're about 30 minutes from kickoff in the battle between the Thompson Warriors and the Grayson Rams. Excitement is high as we get ready to kick off this 2024 Alabama high school football season in style.

1st Quarter

Touchdown Grayson: Grayson sophomore Joel Bradford picked up a first down inside the five-yard line, and punched it in two plays later on the 14th play of the Rams’ game-opening drive. The 80-yard drive took less than three minutes. At the 9:02 mark, it's Grayson 7, Thompson 0.

Grayson back on offense: Thompson couldn't get anything goin on its first offensive possession, but kicker John Alan McGuire, an Auburn commit, launched a 47-yard punt down to the Grayson two-yard line. That's where the Rams will take over, leading 7-0 with 6:10 left in the opening quarter.

End of the 1st Quarter: Grayson drove to midfield, but Auburn commit Jared Smith came up with a big third-down sack for the Warriors. Grayson downed the ensuing punt inside the Rams' 5-yard line. That'll do it for the first quarter of action. It's 7-0 Grayson.

2nd Quarter

Grayson foiled again: Thompson's Jared Smith has been tough to block since that opening drive for Grayson. The Rams had a short field, but had to punt it away from midfield after the senior broke through for a tackle-for-loss on third down. Grayson still leads 7-0 halfway through the quarter.

Another big stop: Thompson's star sophomore quarterback Trent Seaborn finally found some rhythm, but Grayson's star junior linebacker Tyler Atkinson had a drive-killing sack near midfield. Grayson still leads 7-0 with four minutes left in the first half.

Halftime: Grayson's opening-drive touchdown was the only score of the first half. Thompson will get the ball to start the second half.

3rd Quarter

Thompson punt: Grayson linebacker Tyler Atkinson has been a thorn in Thompson’s side all night, and he again came up with a big third down stop on Thompson’s opening drive of the second half. The Warriors had to punt it away from midfield. It's still 7-0 Grayson with 8:51 left in the third quarter.

Grayson punt: Three-star Tulane commit Nikolas Alston came up with the stop for Thompson on 3rd-and-28, and Grayson was forced to punt from inside its own 15. Thompson will take over at midfield when we resume. Penalties are killing the Grayson offense.

Thompson punt: Nothing doing again for Thompson. This Grayson defense has the usually high-powered Warrior offense more than a little perplexed. As a result, Thompson punter John Alan McGuire is earning his keep tonight. His latest punt was his third downed inside the Grayson 20-yard line. Still 7-0 Grayson with 5:29 left in the third quarter.

Touchdown Thompson: The Warriors are on the board after a costly Elijah Miller fumble deep in Grayson territory. Vini Pires punched it out, and Anquan Fegans scooped the ball and rumbled into the end zone for the score. With 4:53 left in the third quarter, we’re all square at 7-7.

Grayson interception: Rams senior DB Jaylon Williams read the eyes of Trent Seaborn perfectly and jumped a quick slant route for an interception. Grayson will take over near midfield with just over 3:00 left in the third quarter.

End of the third quarter: The Thompson defense came up with a stop on 4th-and-8 inside their own 30-yard line thanks to another big sack from their one-man wrecking crew Jared Smith. Auburn commits are making plays all over the field tonight. Thompson is driving near its own 30 yard line as we head to the final quarter.

4th Quarter

Turnover on downs for Grayson: The Rams flipped the field, but had an incomplete pass on to 4th-&-8 at the Thompson 30-yard line. That’s where the Warriors will take over with seven minutes to go. We’re still tied 7-7.

Thompson punt: Andre Fuller came up with another big sack for Grayson, and Thompson had to punt it away with little more than two minutes left in regulation. We're still tied 7-7.

End of regulation: Thompson's Damonte Tabb came up with an interception and returned to midfield with 33.8 seconds left, but the Warriors couldln't get into scoring position and we're headed to overtime.

Overtime

Touchdown Thompson: Trent Seaborn connected with Brooks Byars for a 10-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the first overtime period. 

Grayson wins! Grayson responded on their possession with a five-yard touchdown pass from Travis Burgess to Aiden Taylor. Rams coach Santavious Bryant rolled the dice to go for it, and senior Elijah Miller took the direct snap in a wildcat formation and followed the block of Waylon Wooten for the game-winning two-point conversion. That's the ballgame, final score: Grayson 15, Thompson 4.

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Tyler Cleveland

TYLER CLEVELAND

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