APS has two high schools to cheer on as the state high school football playoffs kick into high gear next weekend. Grady High defeated Cedar Grove 17-6 to capture the Region 5-AAA title, and will play host to Gilmer County this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Grady Stadium. Mays High, which shut out Chamblee 54-0 on Friday, is the No. 4 team out of Region 6-AAAA and will travel to face Athens’ Clarke Central at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Friday’s win was huge for Grady, which won its first regional championship since 2006. As the AJC reported, Grady Coach Ronnie Millen knew the team would have its hands full with Cedar Grove:
Millen said he and his staff were definitely concerned about limiting Saints sophomore quarterback Jonathan McCrary and his crew of receivers, led by Vincent Dallas. The Knights’ defense responded by holding Cedar Grove (6-4) to 164 yards passing, while picking off three of McCrary’s passes — one of which was returned 35 yards for a touchdown by junior safety Quintavious Knight early in the fourth quarter, pushing Grady’s lead to 17-0. Grady also sacked McCrary four times.
It didn’t hurt to have Grady running backs Marcus Caffey and Roderick Holden combine for 220 yards rushing!
The AJC also noted that this is the first season Region 5-AAA had a “play-in” game, which Mays didn’t have to sweat being in Region 6-AAAA. The Raiders simply finished out the season with their 54-0 thumping of Chamblee. Thanks again to Grady High student and Southerner staffer Mason Gepp for his spot-on preview of the Cedar Grove game.
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