Grayson's multiple title defenses dominate 6A landscape

The Grayson football program sits atop Georgias highest classification after conquering the competition in 2024 and using a 14-game win-streak to capture the Class 6A state title. With its 38-24 win over Carrollton at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Grayson became a four-time state champion in Georgias largest classification. The Gwinnett-based powerhouses other state titles came in 2020, 2016 and 2011 and the program is a perfect 4-0 in all-time championship appearances. When the 2025 football season rolls around, Grayson will attempt to go back-to-back for the first time in school history and will also try and win a fourth-straight region title for the first time. Third-year head coach Santavious Bryant and his staff will have plenty of returning talent to achieve this task and they will be carrying the spotlight into this season with the star-power and track record to command the recognition. Colquitt County (2014-15) and Norcross (2012-13) are the last teams to produce consecutive titles in Georgias highest classification and Grayson footballs bid for back-to-back titles will be the overarching storyline in Class 6A for the rest of 2025. History is also on the line for both the Grayson boys and girls basketball teams this season. After sweeping and winning state titles for the first time in school history last basketball season, the boys and girls can each earn consecutive crowns for the first time this season.

Fall's Major TakeawaysEast Cowetas victory in the Class 6A Fast Pitch Softball State Championship contributed to another intriguing development in the states largest classification. In winning, the Indians denied Buford a third-straight state title. Buford has remained a contender in all sports disciplines since joining the largest classification for the first time in 2022-23 and is routinely ranked high in the various polls, however, it is worth noting that 2024 marked the first Fall Season since 2018 that Buford did not capture a state title in any of the Fall Sports. Buford will have an opportunity to add more hardware to expansive collection this winter in many sports, including wrestling. The Wolves swept state titles in the duals and traditional in 2021 and 2022, but have been topped by Camden County in each of the last two years. While Buford remains one of the most dominant athletic programs in the state, earning state titles in Georgias largest classification will be a main storyline in the winter and spring after a rare fall without a title.

Around the classGraysons boys and girls basketball teams have maintained championship form this season after sweeping state crowns for the first time last year. The girls have won 14-straight since a season-opening loss to Cherokee and just defeated rival Archer 67-64 over the weekend. Similar to the girls 14-1 record, the boys are 13-1 and showing progression since the start of the year with back-to-back wins over Archer and McEachern. Nationally-ranked Christopher Columbus out of Florida is the only team that has topped the Grayson boys this year and they have not lost to a Georgia opponent since their semifinal loss to Wheeler in the 2022-23 state playoffs two seasons ago. Marietta girls basketball coach Derrick DeWitt earned his milestone 250th victory Saturday as the Blue Devils beat Starrs Mill 54-47. Waltons boys basketball team bounced back from its loss to Archer over the weekend with a 59-49 win over Chapel Hill to close out the Lemon Street Classic at Marietta High School last week. The Raiders (11-2) executed a game plan of unselfish basketball and communication to stop the Panthers (11-4). Getting the win was important for head coach Bo Abney. The Raiders started fast and led 19-7 after the first quarter. Suffocating defense, rebounding and ball movement helped set and maintain the pace. We got back to doing things together, said Abney. We played with a lot of energy and played together and we had one of our best games of the year. Caesar Burrows led the way with 19 points and Chapel Hills CJ Geathers was kept in check with minimal opportunities to get heated up.

Girls Basketball Top 10 at a Glance

1. North ForsythThe Raiders are off to a blazing 15-0 start and will play at Forsyth Central Tuesday night in Regioin 6 play. North is 5-0 in region play and this is their first game back in the state after taking three-straight victories over Tennessee teams over the holiday. Forsyth Central is coming off a 49-26 win over Flowery Branch.

2. North PauldingNorth Paulding (13-1) dropped its first game of the season over the weekend to Hughes (45-38) and will look to bounce back Tuesday night at Etowah.

3. GraysonThe defending state champions opened the season unranked and have climbed all the way to No. 3 after stacking up 14-straight wins. The Lady Rams will host South Gwinnett Tuesday night.

4. NewtonNewton is coming off a thrilling 53-50 win over Galloway back on Dec. 30 and will have a massive top 10 showdown Tuesday night at home against Archer.

5. CampbellThe Spartans (13-1) have won seven-straight since a 46-38 loss to Harrison and will host Paulding County on Tuesday before concluding the week at home against McEachern.

6. ArcherArcher will try to bounce back from its 67-64 loss to No. 3 ranked Grayson Tuesday night in its trip to No. 4 ranked Newton.

7. CarrolltonThe Trojans have heated up after a 6-5 start and have won five-straight to improve to 11-5. Carrolltons most recent wins were blowouts over Central (70-25), Chapel Hill (78-17) and New Manchester (75-28). Up next, Carrollton will travel to Region 2 rival East Coweta Tuesday night.

8. CherokeeThe Warriors are battle-tested heading into their region matchup with Wheeler Tuesday night. Cherokee is now 14-3 on the season and its three losses were to ranked River Ridge in addition to narrow defeats to No. 2 North Paulding (65-59) and No. 5 Campbell (61-57).

9. Lowndes--Lowndes is the lone South Georgia team in the top 10 and is riding a 9-game win-streak. The Lady Vikings opened up Region 1 action this past weekend and scored a 52-28 win over Tift County. Now, Lowndes will take on Colquitt County in a rematch of their 71-38 win over the Packers back on Dec. 20. Lowndes was 22-5 last season before falling to eventual state champion Grayson and is off to a strong 11-1 start with its lone loss coming to out-of-state Rickards (FL) in a 46-44 battle.

10. BufordBuford looks to keep climbing in the poll after improving to 11-1. Currently, Buford is riding a 3-game win-streak and the Wolves will have an opportunity to avenge their only loss this year in a couple weeks when they host Region 8 rival Mill Creek on Jan. 28. Mill Creek took the last meeting 60-51 on Dec. 16. Bufords next matchup will be at home against Collins Hill Wednesday night.

Boys Basketball Top 10 Schedule

1. Grayson Tuesday vs. South Gwinnett, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Newton, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 vs. Rockdale County, 7:30 p.m.

2. Wheeler Tuesday vs. Cherokee, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at North Paulding, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 vs. Etowah, 7:30 p.m.

3. Newton Tuesday vs. Archer, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at Grayson, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 vs. Grovetown, 7:30 p.m.

4. McEachern Tuesday vs. Osborne, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at Campbell, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 at Paulding County, 7:30 p.m.

5. Walton Tuesday vs. North Cobb, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Pickens, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 at Marietta, 7:30 p.m.

6. Etowah Tuesday vs. North Paulding, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Marietta, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 at Wheeler, 7:30 p.m.

7. Lambert Tuesday vs. West Forsyth, 7:30 p.m.; Friday at South Forsyth, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. North Atlanta, 3:30 p.m.

8. Hillgrove Tuesday at South Cobb, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Harrison, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 at Pebblebrook, 7:30 p.m.

9. Norcross Tuesday vs. Berkmar, 7:00 p.m.; Friday at Duluth, 7:00 p.m.; Jan. 14 at Peachtree Ridge, 7:00 p.m.

10. Grovetown Tuesday at Rockdale County, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Greenbrier, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 at Newton, 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball Top 10 Schedule

1. North Forsyth Tuesday at Forsyth Central, 6:00 p.m.; Friday vs. Denmark, 6:00 p.m.; Jan. 14 vs. North Atlanta, 6:00 p.m.

2. North Paulding Tuesday at Etowah, 6:00 p.m.; Thursday vs. Wheeler, 6:00 p.m.; Jan. 14 at North Cobb, 6:00 p.m.

3. Grayson Tuesday vs. South Gwinnett, 6:00 p.m.; Thursday vs. Newton, 6:00 p.m.; Jan. 14 vs. Rockdale County, 6:00 p.m.

4. Newton Tuesday vs. Archer, 6:00 p.m.; Thursday at Grayson, 6:00 p.m.; Jan. 14 vs. Grovetown, 6:00 p.m.

5. Campbell Tuesday vs. Paulding County, 6:00 p.m.; Friday vs. McEachern, 6:00 p.m.; Jan. 14 at Osborne, 6:00 p.m.

6. Archer Tuesday at Newton, 6:00 p.m.; Friday at Heritage-Conyers, 6:00 p.m.; Jan. 17 vs. Grovetown, 6:00 p.m.

7. Carrollton Tuesday at East Coweta, 6:00 p.m.; Friday vs. Douglas County, 6:00 p.m.; Jan. 17 vs. Westlake, 6:00 p.m.

8. Cherokee Tuesday at Wheeler, 6:00 p.m.; Friday vs. North Cobb, 5:00 p.m.; Jan. 17 at Walton, 6:00 p.m.

9. Lowndes Tuesday vs. Colquitt County, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday vs. Valdosta, 6:00 p.m.; Jan. 14 at Thomasville, 6:00 p.m.

10. Buford Wednesday vs. Collins Hill, 6:00 p.m.; Friday vs. Dacula, 6:30 p.m.; Jan. 14 vs. Mountain View, 6:00 p.m.