Peachtree Ridge nips Grayson in double overtime

As he was mobbed by friends, Ronnie Smith could hardly contain himself. And with the game on the line, neither could the Grayson defense.

Smith’s 1-yard touchdown run gave Peachtree Ridge a 13-10 double overtime victory against Grayson. Each team was on the verge of winning the game at least once, but improbable plays allowed the drama to continue before the senior’s run sent the Lions to their second Class AAAAA title game in three years.

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Jason Getz/jgetz@ajc.com

Grayson’s Ean Pemberton can’t elude the tackle of Peachtree Ridge’s Tanner Botts.

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“This is the best feeling ever,” an ecstatic Smith said. “I’ve never felt this way in my life. Nothing can describe this. This is the best feeling. I will never forget this.”

Nor will most who watched the classic, hard-hitting affair between two of the best defenses in the state. Tied at 7-7 late in the game, Peachtree Ridge set itself up to win the game in regulation. The Lions had a first down at the Grayson 28-yard line with 23 seconds left. But Ches Whitesides intercepted a pass from Nick Lombardo to send the game into overtime.

After missing a field goal on their first possession in the extra session, the Lions’ season looked to be over. Grayson set up for the game-winner, but after a bad snap, Connor Norman tackled holder Patrick Santry and gave the Lions new life.

The Rams converted a field goal on their second possession to take a 10-7 lead, but on the Lions’ first play, Smith, a 232-pound back, blasted up the middle to the 1-yard line and scored the clincher two plays later.

The Lions will play Camden in the Georgia Dome on Saturday.

Peachtree Ridge coach Bill Ballard said he told his players to block the Rams’ field-goal attempt and then go score a touchdown. He didn’t get the block, but he got the result he was looking for.

“Our guys rose to the challenge,” said Ballard, in his second year at Peachtree Ridge after leaving Tucker. “I am so proud of how we rose to the challenge.”

Norman is one of handful of players who played on the team that won a share of the state title two years ago.

“This feels great,” Norman said. “This is a huge win. We fought to the end. We finished the drill tonight. It was a great game. This one means a lot more now because I’m a senior, and now we can make something happen.”

After losing their first two games, the Lions (12-2) have won 12 in a row, led by their defense, which is allowing nine points a year. Rams’ running back Ean Pemberton ran for 131 yards on 36 carries, but the Lions kept him from making any big plays. Norman, a physical corner, made several big stops along with the usual suspects, Chris Carroll, Kevin Minter, Eric Odonkor, Eric Mitchell and Tyler and Tanner Botts.

Grayson went 70 yards on 11 plays on its first possession with Harrell Gunn going off right tackle for an 8-yard score.

Peachtree Ridge took five plays and less than two minutes to answer. Offensive lineman Corey Brabham recovered a Brandon Stanley fumble in the end zone.

“It was a defensive battle, a great game, and unfortunately someone had to lose,” said Grayson coach Mickey Conn, whose team finished 13-1. “We fought hard and just came up short. It wasn’t meant to be. It just wasn’t meant to be.”