HOSCHTON -- Grayson turned the matchup of the playoffs into its own personal statement Friday night at Mill Creek Community Stadium.<br />
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The Rams FBS-littered defense manhandled the Hawks powerful rushing attack and used its own ground game to take a surprisingly easy 24-6 win in the first round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs.<br />
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When the brackets took shape after last week's regular season finish, the matchup garnered state and even some national attention pitting two of the top teams in the state's marquee classification.<br />
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It never materialized.<br />
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Grayson produced a 42-yard field goal from Austin Hoyt on its opening drive of the game and then let its star-studded defense take over from there.<br />
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It was billed as a test of wills between the Rams defense, which came in having allowed just 81 points, and the Hawks juggernaught ground game, which was averaging 309 yards a game. It was no contest from the outset.<br />
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Grayson's defensive front seven, with four FBS caliber players, dominated the action from the time it stepped on the field. The Rams held Mill Creek to just 114 yards and dynamic quarterback Daniel David to just 45 yards rushing for the game.<br />
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"We were really physical tonight. We've got a fast defense. We've got good players on defense, and they were able to react to the counters and the options," Grayson coach Mickey Conn said. "(Mill Creek) had a hard time moving the ball on us. I'm very proud of the way our defense played, and of our defensive (coaching) staff."<br />
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Grayson also knocked out Jonathan Hawkins in the first half with an ankle injury and he had just one carry in the second half.<br />
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The Hawks only consistent drives came in the fourth quarter after the Rams had used two third quarter touchdowns to put the game out of reach for a 24-0 lead. Befitting the tone of the game, the Rams defense stopped Mill Creek the first time at the Rams 10.<br />
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Mill Creek would get one more chance in the final two minutes after David hit Braden Canamare for a 47-yard pass to the Rams' 7. Brian Efianayi finally got the Hawks on the board with a 7-yard touchdown run with 2:28 left.<br />
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David's most effective plays came in the passing game where he was 13-of-34 for 141 yards. Not a good sign for a running team when it has just one fewer pass attempts (34) than rushing attempts (35).<br />
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Grayson, behind its monstrous offensive line, started the game strong moving to the Hawks' 25. but the drive stalled and Hoyt converted a 42-yard field goal for a 3-0 just four minutes into the game.<br />
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Both defenses took over from there. Mill Creek allowed just three first downs after the initial drive and picked off a Chase Brice pass at the Hawks' 19 to thwart a potential scoring opportunity.<br />
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On the ensuing Mill Creek drive, Grayson would hold the Hawks to just one first down and a punt. Then Jordan Hayes fielded the kick at the Rams 28 and weaved his way through the Mill Creek coverage for a 72-yard punt return and a 10-0 lead with 8:27 left in the first half.<br />
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In the third quarter, the Rams defense stuffed the Hawks on three plays on their opening drive and then Brice engineered a nine-play, 53-yard drive, capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Asseh for a 17-0 lead with 8:51 left in the quarter. Asseh had three catches for 26 yards on the drive.<br />
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Mill Creek would run just five plays on its next possession and then Brice and Asseh connected on two more passes and Brice finished off the nine-play, 71-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge to make it 24-0 late in the third quarter.<br />
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Grayson will travel on Tucker, a 31-29 winner over Tift County, next week in the second round.<br />
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<b>SCORING SUMMARY</b><br />
<b>Grayson</b>........3....7....14....0 -- 24<br />
<b>Mill Creek</b>.....0.....0....0....6 -- 6<br />
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<b>First Quarter</b><br />
GR -- Hoyt 42 FG 3-0, 7:58<br />
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<b>Second Quarter</b><br />
GR -- J. Hayes 72 punt return (Hoyt kick) 10-0, 8:27<br />
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<b>Third Quarter</b><br />
GR -- Asseh 14 pass from Brice (Hoyt kick) 17-0, 8:51<br />
GR -- Brice 1 run (Hoyt kick) 24-0, 1:24<br />
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<b>Fourth Quarter</b><br />
MC -- Efianayi 7 run (pass failed) 24-6, 2:28<br />
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NOTES: Mill Creek came in averaging 41.6 ppg on the season. It was the Hawks' lowest offensive output since being shut out by Collins Hill in 2009. ... With the loss Mill Creek finished 0-4 against ranked teams in 2014. ... It was the seventh game this season Grayson held an opponent to 7 points or less. ... The Mill Creek defense had allowed just 21 points over its previous five games until Friday night.
