Grayson (Ga.) Rallies in the Fourth, Defeats Thompson (Ala.) in Overtime for a Second Consecutive Year

Alabama's top ranked team squares off with the No. 1 team in Georgia

Grayson outlasted Thompson, 15-14, in a defensive struggle last year in Alabama. Another close battle is expected when the pair match up again this week. / Joe Boyd

It wasn’t pretty, but it sure was exciting, as Grayson (Ga.) playing its first game without injured quarterback Travis Burgess, who is out for the season, found its offensive footing late, and defeated Thompson (Ala.), 24-23 in overtime.

Each team came in as the top-ranked team in their state, with Grayson holding the No. 7 ranking in the nation and Thompson ranked No. 12.

Junior quarterback Deuce Smith took over for Burgess and despite three earlier interceptions, led the Rams on touchdown drives of 99- and 71-yards in the fourth quarter to rally Grayson to a tie. 

His only touchdown pass of the night came with just 18 second left in the fourth quarter as he delivered a dart to Salf Bin-Wahad at the goal line to tie contest at 17. The Rams then grabbed a 24-17 lead with a 7-yard touchdown run by Ashton Turner on the first possession of overtime.

Thompson countered with a 15-yard TD pass from Trent Seaborn to Dedrick Kimbrough on its first play in overtime. After a timeout, the Warriors elected to go for two and the win. Their first attempt was broken up, but they got another shot because of a pass interference call. The Ram defense, which came up with four turnovers in the contest, however, denied the second attempt as well and escaped with their second consecutive overtime win over Thompson.

Thompson also came up with four turnovers in the contest. The Warriors moved the ball well at times, but did not make enough plays to get the points they needed to put the game away.

For all the details follow our Live Update thread below.

Preview

The top ranked high school football team in Alabama crosses the border to face the top-ranked team in Georgia, as Thompson (Ala.) visits Grayson (Ga.) in showdown between nationally ranked squads.

The two teams played one of the most exciting games of the 2024 season when Grayson edged Thompson, 15-14, in overtime, last year. More of the same is expected. Grayson will have to find a way to win without star quarterback Travis Burgess, who announced this week that has suffered a season ending injury, but the Rams are still loaded with talent.

Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. ET.

Pick 'em

Play High School On SI's Pick 'Em and choose who you think will win below.

Thompson (AL) at Grayson (GA): Live Score Updates - Aug. 29, 2025

	1	2	3	4	OT	F
Thompson	3	0	7	7	6	23
Grayson	0	3	0	14	7	24

Pregame

We're nearly ready to go. Grayson is in white pants, green jerseys and gold helments. Thompson is wearing its white road jerseys, grey pants and silver helmets.

1st Quarter

After the opening kickoff, Ashton Turner crosses midfield on a run for Grayson.

FUMBLE RECOVERY: The absence of Travis Burgess shows itself early. Grayson fumbles on the QB-running back exchange and the Thompson defense covers it. The Warriors have the ball at midfield.

Thompson quarterback Trent Seaborn completes his first pass, a flair to Reginald Evans II, who takes it down to the Grayson 31.

Seaborn scrambles for time and connects with Darrion Mosley for a first down at the 10.

INTERCEPTION! Grayson's defense responds as Rilee Drew picks off Seaborn in the end zone.

Grayson cannot move the ball and punts. There was no return and Thompson starts its second possession at its own 35.

We're still scoreless, with 7:16 to play in the first quarter, as Thompson punts it back to the Rams, who will start at their own 13.

New Grayson QB Deuce Smith collects his first two completions and the Rams have a first down at their own 40.

Smith flips the ball to the flat where Jonathan Stafford collects it and gains 11 down to the Thompson 49.

Grayson's drive stalls right there and we have another punt. Thompson has the ball back at its own 25.

Trent Seaborn connects with Moseley for a first down at the Warriors' 48.

Seaborn beats the blitz with a flip to Kamorri Jackson, who runs it into Grayson territory.

Seaborn converts a third and long with a first down throw to Dedrick Kimbrough. Thompson is at the Grayson 24 with two minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

FIELD GOAL! Ethan Black connects on a 34-yard field goal attempt to give Thompson a 3-0 lead with 20 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Grayson runs the ball once and the first quarter comes to a close.

2nd Quarter

Smith delivers a first down pass to Jonathan Stafford to open the second quarter.

Dawson Quarterman, an East Carolina commit, makes first catch of the night. The officials tack on 15 more for a penalty and the Rams are at the Thompson 38.

A pooch kick by Smith, on fourth down, is collected inside the five by Quarterman and Thompson is pinned back at its two for its first possession of the second quarter.

Seaborn gets his team out of a hole with a first down throw, beyond the 25, to Pryce Lewis.

Thompson is on the move as Seaborn is spreading the ball around. The Warriors are across midfield with 7:09 to play in the half.

After a timeout, Thompson misses on a third down attempt and punts it back to the Rams with 6:34 to go in the second quarter.

Duece Smith makes a nice first down throw over the middle and Quarterman collects it at the 30.

After a couple of completions by Smith, Grayson is out to its own 48.

Ashton Turner runs for nine and a face mask call adds another 15. The Rams are in the red zone for the first time.

Turner makes another first down run and Grayson is setup with 1st and goal from the 5. Timeout Thompson.

FIELD GOAL! The Rams get the game tied with a 24-yard field goal by Ricardo Martinez with 2:34 remaining in the half.

Seaborn completes a throw to Trey Knight across the 50. Thompson is down to the Grayson 42 with 1:41 on the clock.

Two more completion takes the Warriors down the 29. They've called timeout with 1:18 to go in the half.

INTERCEPTION! Seaborn tried to force the ball downfield, by Eli Harris denied him with the Rams second interception of the night. Grayson takes over at its 23.

INTERCEPTION! Back-to-back. Smith's arm was hit as he threw and Elijah King came down with it at the Grayson 40. Less than minute to in the first half.

SACK! Harris makes another huge play, sacking Seaborn for a 15-yard loss at the 30, taking Thompson out of field goal range.

INTERCEPTION! Seaborn takes a shot into the end zone, but Grayson's Damari Clemons was the only one home, grabbing the ball for the Rams' third interception of the night. After one snap by Grayson this game will go to the half in a 3-3 deadlock.

3rd Quarter

Thompson gets the first possession of the third quarter and gets a third down conversion.

FUMBLE RECOVERY! After a first down catch past midfield, Trey Knight fumbles and Grayson takes it away for the fourth time.

INTERCEPTION! Terry Robinson picks off a tipped ball and runs it deep back into Grayson territory, but a penalty takes it back to the Thompson 38.

Thompson completes three passes and gets 15 more from a face mask call. The Warriors are driving at the Thompson 19.

Grayson is called for pass interference on a throw into the end zone. Thompson now has 1st and goal at the five.

TOUCHDOWN! We have our first breach of the end zone. Knight atones for his earlier fumble with a sliding catch in the back right corner of the end zone. The kick is good and Thompson is on top, 10-3, with 6:52 to play in the third.

Turner runs twice for a first down and then is tackled for a loss as Grayson tries to establish its running game.

Grayson is forced to punt and Thompson has great field possession at its own 46, midway through the third.

The Rams defense does its job. Thompson punts it away and after a fair catch, Grayson has the ball at its own 21 with 3:50 remaining in the third quarter.

Deuce Smith converts a third down throw to Stafford and the Rams get 15 more to move out to their own 49. Despite its offensive struggles, Grayson is just one big play from tying this game.

Smith rolls to his right and finds Quarterman for a first down at the Thompson 34.

Elijah King's second interception is nullified by a defensive penalty and Grayson moves into the red zone.

On third and long, Smith is flushed out of the pocket and is forced out of bounds. The Rams attempt a 34-yard field goal, but it goes wide left. Thompson has it back with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.

4th Quarter

Early in the fourth quarter, Thompson has to punt the ball away and Grayson is back at its own 20 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

INTERCEPTION! Demonte Tabb collects yet another interception from Smith and they have the ball at the Grayson 28.

Grayson's defense comes up big again, forcing a punt, but the Warriors down it at the Grayson one. The Rams have 99 yards ahread of them.

Ashton Turner gives Grayson a little breathing room with a run to the 15.

Thompson gets called for yet another face mask penalty. Grayson gets a first down out to its own 48. There is 6:19 left.

Ty'jae Clarke makes a nice move after a short catch and runs to the Thompson 39.

A pass interference penalty helps Grayson move inside the 30, before Ashton Turner runs the ball down to the Thompson nine, with 4:15 left in the game. That is followed by an illegal substitution call that gives the Rams 1st and goal at the five.

Grayson calls timeout with 3:17 left.

TOUCHDOWN! Ashton Turner running out of the wildcat formation takes the snap and scores from the four. A personal foul call after the score forces the PAT try to come from the 25, but Carlos Martinez is able to convert the 35-yard kick to tie the game, 10-10 with 2:55 remaining. That was a 99-yard drive.

The kickoff is driven out of bounds, giving Thompson a huge break as they start at their own 35.

Another mistake by Grayson, this time a pass interference call, gets Thompson out of a third and long jam.

TOUCHDOWN! Dedrick Kimbrough behind the Grayson defense and Trent Seaborn puts the ball on the money for a 50-yard TD throw. The kick is good and Thompson leads 17-10 with 2:11 to play in the game.

Thaxton Cunningham breaks a nice return for Grayson which has the ball at its own 29 with 2 minutes to go.

After a couple of penalties, Grayson is facing a 3rd and 24 from its own 16.

On 4th and 10, Smith takes a shot downfield. He doesn't make the completion but Thompson is whistled for another pass interference call. However, Grayson was called for holding. Those penalties offset. Hold on, there was a third penalty on the play and Grayson ends up with a first down at its own 35.

Quarterman, who has made many big plays tonight, gains 21 with sideline rout. Smith follows with a first down scramble to the Thompson 27.

TOUCHDOWN! With just 18 seconds left, Deuce Smith makes his best throw of the night, finding Salf Bin-Wahad near the goal line for the score. Grayson calls timeout to discuss the conversion attempt. They elect to kick and the game is tied, 17-17 with 7 seconds left.

Thompson takes a knee and we're going to overtime.

OVERTIME

Grayson gets the ball first, at their own 15. No gain on first down.

After nearly coming up with a touchdown catch on second down, Quarterman draws pass interference penalty. Grayson gets half the distance and its 3rd ad 2.

TOUCHDOWN! Ashton Turner gives Grayson its first lead with a 7-yard run. Grayson gets the kick and goes up 24-17.

TOUCHDOWN! On first down, Kimbrough gets his second TD catch of the night. The Warriors call time out to consider the two-point try.

Thompson goes for the win, but pass interference is called in the end zone. We'll go again.

CONVERSION FAILS! GRAYSON WINS! 24-23