Grayson manhandles new region rival Dacula

The fifth-ranked Grayson Rams preserved their lofty status with a 27-7 victory against visiting Dacula Friday night.

Grayson kept the ball on the ground, grinding out two long time-consuming touchdown drives in the first half.

So dominant was Grayson in the first half that it controlled the ball for 17:22 minutes and had 206 yards of total offense.

The stingy Grayson defense held the Falcons to minus-4 yards of total offense in the first half.

Grayson used counter-direction plays to running backs Ean Pemberton and Herrell Gunn, who both rushed for 51 yards in the first half. The only thing that slowed the Rams were penalties. Despite all the rushing, the Rams scored their first touchdown on a 25-yard pass to the wide open Gunn. The second touchdown was a 3-yard run by Greg Zellner. Grayson missed a field goal late in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 14-0 lead.

Grayson scored their third touchdown with a 12-yard pass to James Earl Jones late in the third quarter. The 5-foot-3 Pemberton continued to get the ball and ended up with 99 yards rushing.

Dacula’s offense began getting some positive yards in the second half, but was plaqued by penalties and incomplete passes. The Falcons had a first down on the Grayson 16 and committed two consecutive penalties, two incomplete passes, had a sack and was forced to punt.

The Falcons finally scored in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Cody Davis.

Grayson put the game out of reach late in the game with a 32-yard run by Jones.

“I thought we controlled both lines of scrimmmage,” Grayson coach Mickey Conn said. “We were able to come out the second half and really milk the clock by running it. The back side post for the first touchdown of the game was really key.”