Three reasons Walton made it to the Dome …
- Tyren Jones – The junior tailback has rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries and ran his season rushing total to 2,298, the best in AAAAA, and scored his 37th and 38th touchdowns in the 30-24 victory over Lassiter. His 65-yard TD run late in the third quarter proved to be the difference.
- A dominant offensive line – Brandon Kublanow and Harrison Davis lead a front five that generally controlled the line of scrimmage against Lassiter. Kublanow is one of the top-rated junior linemen in the state. Davis has committed to The Citadel.
- Putting pressure on the QB – Lassiter’s first five planned pass plays resulted in two sacks, a screen for lost yardage, a throwaway to escape a third sack and an interception that Zack Blaylock returned 38 yards to the Lassiter 37, setting up Walton’s second touchdown. Blaylock, who has 11 interceptions, suffered a dislocated shoulder on the play and did not return. Without Blaylock, Lassiter began getting the time it needed, but defensive end Koty Allen and linebacker Blake Montz and others were making life tough early, allowing Walton to jump to a 21-3 lead.
Three reasons Grayson made it to the Dome …
- Nick Schuessler – The Rams hang their hat on defense and running the ball, but there always comes a time when a team must pass to win a championship. It came Friday, and Schuessler threw a 6-yard TD pass to Marcus Lundquist in the final seconds of the 35-31 victory. In 2010, Colquitt County beat Grayson 31-24 in the semifinals, and Schuessler was 2-for-11 for 33 yards. This year, he was 9-of-14 for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including a 44-yarder that made it 21-7 in the second quarter.
- Run defense – Colquitt County became the first team to rush for more than 100 yards against Grayson this season. Colquitt had 101, according to the Moultrie Observer. Grayson is allowing less than 40 yards rushing per game, by far the best average in Class AAAAA, and now will face the state’s leading rusher next week in Walton’s Tyren Jones, who is averaging more than 160 yards per game individually.
- Robert Nkemdiche. The 6-5, 270-pound defensive tackle is one of the main reasons for Grayson’s top defensive numbers, but he’s also a threat on offense. He scored one touchdown, his 16th on the season, and rushed for 45 yards on Grayson’s opening drive, which led to a touchdown.
Three reasons this final will be unusual (besides the fact that Walton is trying to become the first Cobb County team to win a state title since 1967) –
- This will be the first all-metro Atlanta Class AAAAA final since Peachtree Ridge and Roswell tied 14-14 in 2006.
- This will be the first Class AAAAA final between undefeated teams since Parkview (14-0) beat Northside-Warner Robins (13-0) in 2001. The last time both teams were 14-0 in the highest classification was 1986, when Valdosta beat Clarke Central.
- This will be the first final in the highest classification between schools that have never won a state title in football since Dunwoody beat South Gwinnett 21-7 in 1993.
