Gwinnett Daily Post

File Photo Grayson quarterback Nick Schuessler looks to throw the ball during a recent game.

The Grayson defense generally gets off the field pretty quickly.

This isn't surprising to anyone who's seen the second-ranked Rams, who are fast and physical on that side of the ball. Big defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, one of the nation's top junior football players, and his talented teammates make for a pretty stingy unit.

That said, Grayson's underrated offense plays a big role in the team's unbeaten record, too. Once the Rams leave the field on defense, their offense usually makes sure the defenders get plenty of rest on the sidelines.

The time-draining offense, as it has been in past seasons, is still a huge strength for the Rams even though this year's team doesn't have the singular offensive star of years past, like an Ean Pemberton.

Instead of a feature back, Grayson uses a rotation of runners to move the ball on offense with five guys in the 300- to 700-yard range on the season. The unit averages 36.2 points by relying heavily on the run, averaging 266.4 rushing yards heading into Friday's second-round showdown with Lowndes.

That run-oriented attack leads to the offensive stat that really matters -- Grayson holds the ball an average of five minutes longer than its opponent. In a 60-minute NFL game, maybe that isn't a big deal. In a 48-minute high school game, it's a substantial edge. And in games that aren't blowouts, where the starters play throughout, the Rams' time of possession advantage can get even larger.

The powerful running game is still there, but so is the added element of the passing game, with quarterback Nick Schuessler and game-breaking wideout Callen Hightower leading the way. Hightower has 26 catches (for 539 yards and five scores) -- not a huge number for a spread attack but impressive in a run-heavy offense. Heck, it seems like there were years in the past where Grayson didn't even attempt a pass 26 times -- in a season.

Those past Grayson teams really struggled to throw the ball when they needed to, which was one of their most glaring weaknesses. That isn't an issue with this group, which showed the potential for a strong passing game with exceptional play during summer passing league events.

But adding that dimension wasn't intended to change the Rams' offensive philosophy. They're still run-first, with a nice bonus of being able to throw the ball.

That combination gives Grayson a top-notch offense, one that can control football games.

And give the defense much-needed rest.

Will Hammock can be reached via email at will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com. His column appears on Thursdays. For archived columns, go to www.gwinnettdailypost.com/willhammock.