Grayson dominates, shuts out Walton

By Todd Holcomb

For the AJC

It took Grayson 12 seasons of varsity football to get to its first championship game. It took less than a half to win it.

Enlarge photo

Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com Grayson running back Robert Nkemdiche (1) dives forward for some extra yards after a run in the first half against Walton. Nkemdiche had the first touchdown of the game for Grayson.

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Grayson (15-0) took a 24-point lead in the second quarter, held Walton to minus-19 yards in the first half and won the Class AAAAA final 24-0 Saturday night at the Georgia Dome.

It was the first shutout in a championship game for Georgia’s highest classification since Lowndes beat Brunswick 17-0 in 1999. The shutout was preserved when Grayson stopped a fourth-and-2 play at the Grayson 6 with 2:16 left.

Grayson took command early after a couple of long passes by Nick Schuessler, a punt return by Ryan Carter and a defense that held the state’s leading rusher, Tyren Jones, to 76 yards on 16 carries.

On Walton’s first possession, defensive back David Kamara forced a fumble after a short pass, and linebacker Jay Strickland recovered at the Walton 42. Grayson scored on 10 running plays --  eight by 270-pound Robert Nkemdiche --  and led 7-0.

Better known as a patient running team, Grayson broke the game open on the arm of Schuessler, who threw two touchdown passes to Callen Hightower.

Facing a third-and-18 play late in the first quarter, Schuessler (3-for-3 passing, 108 yards) hit Corey Schaeffer on a 42-yard post pattern to set up a field goal. Then with 9:28 left in the half, Schuessler hit Hightower on another post for a 45-yard touchdown that made it 17-0.

At that point, Gayson led in total yards 163-1.

Grayson next showed off its special teams when Carter went 67 yards on a punt return to the Walton 11. On the next play, Schuessler hit Hightower for a touchdown pass for a 24-0 lead.

The game featured Walton’s strong offense line and the running of Jones against Grayson’s top-rated defense. Jones had 2,299 yards entering the game, but Grayson held Walton to negative rushing yardage until a 52-yard run by Jones in the final minutes put Walton deep in Grayson territory for the only time in the game.

Nkemdiche, the top-rated junior defensive tackle in the country according to most recruiting services, outgained Walton himself with 85 yards on 19 carries.

Walton finished with 58 yards rushing.

Grayson, which opened in 2000, became the eighth team from Gwinnett County to win the highest classification since 1996. Cobb County was denied its first state champion since 1967.

Grayson 10-14-0-0 -- 24

Walton 0-0-0-0 -- 0

G – Robert Nkemdiche 3 run (KallenRhodes kick)

G – Rhodes 34 FG

G – Callen Hightower 45 pass from Nick Schuessler (Rhodes kick)

G – Hightower 11 pass from Schuessler (Rhodes kick)