High school football: No. 3 Collins Hill avenges defeat, knocks off defending champion Grayson 31-0

One season, one mighty turnaround. Third-ranked and host Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.) reversed a lopsided defeat in the 2000 Georgia AAAAAAA high school football title game to Grayson by dominating start-to-finish in a 31-0 victory Friday in the 2021 semifinals.

Behind a dominating defense, two touchdowns from Missouri-bound quarterback Sam Horn, two touchdown runs by Spenser Anderson and three unanswered scores in the third quarter, the Eagles (14-0) steamrolled into next week's finals to face the winner of Walton and No. 21 Milton.

Last year, Collins Hill was on the short end of a 38-14 score in the state finals. Friday, there was no doubt which the better team was.

"Our kids really locked in," Collins Hill coach Lenny Gregory told GPB Sports after the game. "I told the defense at halftime if (Grayson) doesn't score, they can't win. Our kids were unbelievable."

Even though the score was 10-0 at halftime, the Eagles had a massive 297-81 yardage edge. But two turnovers, a muffed punt and an interception kept Grayson (10-4) in the game.

Horn (23 of 29, 209 yards) connected with the nation's No. 1 recruit, Travis Hunter, on a 23-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead. Hunter (eight catches, 72 yards) made a great leaping catch while somehow keeping one foot inbounds giving Collns Hill the first score of the game.

Hunter led the nation in receiving as a junior with 137 catches for 1.746 yards and 24 touchdowns (he also had eight interceptions on defense), but hurt his ankle early in the 2021 season. Despite limited to just eight games, the Florida State commit had 49 catches for 919 yards and 12 touchdowns heading into this game.

"We had to get them this year after they beat us twice last year," Hunter said.

A field goal on the final play of the first half made it 10-0, when the Eagles really got it going.

The chewed more than half of the third quarter with an opening 84-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard TD sneak from Horn, making it 17-0. After a fumble, Anderson scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 3-yard run, making it 24-0.

Then, right before the end of the third quarter, Anderson (seven carries, 99 yards) sprinted home from 17 yards out, giving the Eagles a 31-0 lead and sending this one into a running clock in the fourth quarter.

Collins Hill hopes to win its first state title after making its first final last season. They will be the favorite with its dominating defense that came in with five shutouts and having allowed just 75 points.