LOGANVILLE — If Grayson felt pressure from any outside noise leading into Friday night’s anticipated showdown with Lowndes, it didn’t show on the field.
The Rams welcomed former head coach Adam Carter and his Vikings to town for their final non-region test. Carter’s first trip back to Grayson Community Stadium didn’t go in his favor as the Rams scored early and often in a 40-0 rout.
Grayson (4-1) exploded for 33 points in the first half to induce a running clock coming out of the break.
“We were able to just come out here and show maturity,” Grayson head coach Santavious Bryant said. “That was our whole thing this week was to show maturity and not get caught up in what all the outside people say… Not to worry about all the antics, all the build-up, all the stories behind it.”
This marked the third shutout the Rams’ defense has pitched in their last four games. The unit forced nine punts and a pair of turnovers Friday.
“Man, it’s special,” Bryant said of his defense. “I just tell our guys, ‘When we play to our standard, we can do great things.’ It’s always just about chasing that.”
Senior quarterback J.D. Davis propelled the Grayson offense. He finished the night 21-for-25 passing with 237 yards and three touchdowns. He got the job done with his legs as well, rushing for 62 yards and a score.
“We put a lot on him this offseason as he was coming into the year, just for him to be this guy,” Bryant said. “He took everything we were doing and ran with it. And now I think you’re seeing the fruits of his labor.”
Davis got the scoring started midway through the first quarter. Set up just outside the 10-yard line, he rolled out to his left on a designed keeper and cut back inside the 5 on his way to the end zone.
The Rams doubled their advantage two drives later when Davis delivered a 33-yard strike to junior Aiden Taylor. The score put Grayson up 13-0 with 1:24 left in the first quarter.
Grayson went back to the ground for their third touchdown of the game. After starting out on their own 10-yard line, the Rams quickly worked their way into Vikings territory by way of their blitzkrieg attack. Junior Amari Alston finished the job by bursting around the left side of the line and skating into the end zone unscathed for a 27-yard rushing score.
Davis tossed two more touchdown passes in the second quarter. The first was a dart to junior Eathen Cantres, who immediately evaded a defender and walked into the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown. The second was a connection in the flat with senior Dylan Elder, who broke two tackles and stretched toward the right pylon to earn a 4-yard touchdown.
The final score of the night came courtesy of Grayson’s defense.
An errant snap from the Vikings on third-and-short put the ball on the ground. Several Rams put hands on the loose ball, but it eventually found its way into the arms of senior Darren McKenzie, who scooped it and ran it in from the 15-yard line for a touchdown. Grayson led 40-0 with 9:37 left in the game.
The Rams will open its Region 4-AAAAAAA gauntlet at home next week against Newton.
“It’s a really tough region. A really good region. A ton of good opponents,” Bryant said. “I think it’s just going to be handling it week by week. Just take care of our business and keep focusing on us.”