GRAYSON, Ga. – The Grayson Rams again squeaked past the Thompson Warriors in overtime as the 2024 Georgia Class 6A champion knocked off the Alabama Class 7A champion 24-23 at home on Aug. 29. Last year, the Rams (3-0) beat the Warriors (1-1) in Alabaster on successful two-point try. In the most recent meeting, Grayson, ranked fifth in the nation, held off a Thompson two-point attempt on the last play of the game to secure the one-point overtime win over the 12th-ranked Warriors.  Grayson took the first overtime possession and went up by a touchdown with Ashton Turner scoring from 7 yards out following a penalty on the Warriors defense. Thompson would come right back with Trent Seaborn finding Dedrick Kimbrough in the end zone on a 15-yard throw.  Thompson head coach Mark Freeman said he planned to go for the two-point play if the Warriors scored in overtime. Grayson's defense knocked aside Seaborn's first attempt, but the Warriors got a second chance after pass interference was called. However, Seaborn's second attempt sailed high in the end zone to end the game on the final play.   "It was a wild game," Grayson coach Santavious Bryant said. "It was a great game. We are blessed to be in this position. But we have a lot of learning to do."  The loss makes the fourth consecutive loss in overtime for the Warriors, who overcame three such losses last year to claim their fifth state title in six years. Thompson has not lost by more than three points since Hoover beat the Warriors 9-0 in 2022.  However, Freeman said he expected Grayson to give his team a good test. "That's why we play them," he said, noting his team will use the loss to learn and springboard to a defense of their title last year.   The game got off to an uneven start for Seaborn. He finished the first half 23-of-35 for 209 yards but threw three interceptions, including two deep in Rams territory as the Warriors were driving for scores.  However, in the second half, the junior signal caller was much better, throwing three touchdown passes including a 5-yard play to Trey Knight midway through the third quarter to give Thompson a 10-3 lead and a 49-yarder to Kimbrough to push Thompson back out front to 17-10 with 2:09 left in the game.  "We got into the game in the second half," said Freeman. "And [Seaborn] played a great game in the second half."  Seaborn was hurt all night by the lack of a running game, but, on the night that Texas commit Tyler Atkinson made his season debut for the Rams following a minor injury, he was sacked one time on the night. Atkinson and Seaborn only met one time on the night on a designed run by the Thompson quarterback as Atkinson was limited to five tackles.  Thompson only gained 5 yards on 18 carries on the night as defensive linemen Isiah Gaines and Cameron Middleton kept the Warriors' running game penned up all night long.  However, Seaborn led the Warriors to 22 first downs on the night, finishing 38-of-56 for 362 yards and three scores. Seaborn connected with eight Warrior receivers on the night with Dorion Moseley leading the way with 10 catches for 89 yards. Kimbrough added 5 catches for 88 yards, Knight seven catches for 95 yards, and R.J. Evans eight catches for 42 yards.  Freeman said Thompson knew coming in that Grayson was good against the run, forcing them to go to the pass game. "We depend on play-action," he said, adding that the lack of a good running game hurt their play-action looks.  For Grayson, the story of the night was the emergence of quarterback Deuce Smith. Twice the Rams junior led Grayson back to tie the game. Down 10-3 with 8:41 left in the game, Smith took advantage of two major penalties against Thompson to drive 99 yards in 14 plays as Turner tied the game on a 1-yard drive to tie the game at 10 each.  Then, after Seaborn's second scoring strike of the night with 2:09 left, Smith responded with an eight-play drive to tie the game at 17-17.  Again, Smith took advantage of several Warrior defensive penalties, but got away from the Warriors rush on a 17-yard scramble to bring the ball to the Thompson 27-yard line.  Then, with 15 seconds left to play, he again evaded the Thompson rush and managed to find Saif bin Wahad who had separated from the Warriors defense inside the five and walked into the end zone for the tying score with eight seconds left to play.  "He had an opportunity tonight," Bryant said. "He stepped up and took advantage of the opportunity tonight."  Smith finished 22-of-40 with three interceptions and Turner totaled 94 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.  Chance Strown had 14 stops to pace Thompson's defense.  The Warriors will start region play on Sept. 5 when they play host to the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats at Warrior Stadium.

Read more at: https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2025/08/30/thompson-falls-in-overtime-to-grayson-for-second-straight-year/