Roswell 30, Grayson 26

With Roswell's season down to the final seconds, quarterback Quintarius Neely's instructions to his backside receiver were simple: "Just keep running, and I'll find you."

It was a good plan.

Neely hit A.J. Smith on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds to play, capping a remarkable 30-26 win over Grayson on Friday.

"Oh, man, we might break the bus (on the ride home)," Neely said.

That wouldn't be wise. Roswell will need the bus next week. The undefeated Hornets are headed to the Georgia Dome to face defending champion Colquitt County next Saturday in the Class AAAAAA final. The state championship game will be hard pressed to match Friday's semifinal.

Grayson kicker Will VanPamelen hit a 19-yard field goal that put the Rams ahead 26-23 with 35 seconds to play. Roswell took over on its 35-yard line with no timeouts. On 3rd and 10, Neely hit Kendrick Jackson on a 35-yard crossing route.  With time ticking down, Roswell scrambled to the line, and Neely spiked the ball to stop the clock with 18 seconds to play.

"On the last play, I told my receiver on the back side, I knew they were going to roll to the play side," Neely explained. "I told him to just keep running, and I'll find you."

Smith was well covered, but leaped up and snagged the winning touchdown.

"It was an amazing play. All thanks to God," Roswell safety Xavier McKinney said. "It was amazing how we won."

It was an amazing win for Roswell, but heartbreak for Grayson. The Rams took a 17-16 lead into the fourth quarter on Cameryn Brent's 59-yard touchdown run. Brent extended the lead to 23-16 on a 1-yard plunge with 6:33 to play.

Roswell tied the score on George Arowoselu's 2-yard touchdown run with 4:32 to play.

McKinney picked off Grayson's promising junior quarterback Chase Brice on the Rams' ensuing possession. But the Hornets weren't able to move the ball and punted it back to Grayson with 1:30 to play. Brice led the Rams down the field, finding Evan Sturgill on 46-yard pass down to the Roswell 9-yard line. The Rams were forced to settle for VanPamelen's field goal with 35 seconds left, giving life to the Hornets.