No. 4 Grayson outlasts weather, Collins Hill for season-opening win in MaxPreps Game of the Week

For No. 4 Grayson (Loganville), the wait was worth it. The Rams opened the 2025 high school football season with a convincing 51-3 win over Collins Hill (Suwanee) in the inaugural MaxPreps Game of the Week between two recent Georgia state champions.

In a game delayed more than two hours by lightning and torrential rain in the metro Atlanta area, the reigning Class AAAAAA champion got an opening-drive touchdown and three special teams scores before half. Rams quarterback Travis Burgess threw three touchdowns, ran for another and the Grayson defense held Collins Hill to eight yards of total offense in the opening half.

The game was streamed live by MaxPreps, the first of 12 showcases set to be aired during the 2025 season. With a 15-point lead at intermission, Grayson forced a Collins Hill fumble on the second play from scrimmage after the break. The Rams scored two plays later for a 24-3 lead less than a minute into the second half.

On the ensuing possession London Goggans intercepted Collins Hill quarterback A.J. Bush. A few players later, Burgess hit tight end Olafemi Hunter on a pop pass for a 35-yard touchdown and 31-3 lead with 10:12 left in the third quarter.

Burgess tossed his third touchdown pass on the Rams next possession, a 74-yard go route to Dawson Quarterman.

Grayson opened the game by picking up a first down without having to snap the ball on two offsides penalties. The Rams needed just five plays to go 59 yards for the touchdown. Burgess hit junior running back Ashton Turner on an arrow route for the touchdown less than three minutes into the game. After the teams traded three-and-outs, Collins Hill was set to punt on its own 18 before a penalty forced a re-kick. The ensuing snap sailed out of the back of the end zone for the first of two safeties in the opening half.

Trailing 9-0, Collins Hill mounted a drive toward the end of the first quarter but was forced to settle for a 26-yard field goal with 2:08 left in the period.

Grayson's second touchdown of the night came on special teams when Phillip Bonacci was forced to punt with his heels on the end line. A low, line-drive kick was scooped up by Jonathan Stafford for a 44-yard punt return and a 16-3 lead. 

The second safety came with less than four minutes left in half as Collins Hill was again pinned deep on a punt attempt.

Grayson (1-0) will look for its 16th consecutive victory dating back to last season next week against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Rabun Gap). Collins Hill (0-1) hopes to bounce back against Woodward Academy (College Park).

The MaxPreps Game of the Week, meanwhile, heads west next week for a showdown between nationally-ranked Southern California powerhouses. Former Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer makes his head coaching debut for No. 16 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) against No. 14 Mission Viejo.