Grace Christian School’s football Rams bounced back on Saturday with a decisive 31‑13 win over Lakeway at the Lakeway Christian field, preserving their bid for the No. 1 seed in the Division II‑AA East Region. The victory, highlighted by a late third‑quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Hobson to Thomas, kept Grace (8‑1, 6‑1) tied for first place in the regional standings.
Key moments
Early in the third quarter, Thomas slipped past a defender and flicked the ball to Hobson, who was already in the end zone. The play, occurring with just over two minutes left in the period, proved to be the game‑changing dagger.
Lakeway out‑gained Grace on the ground, 209‑104, but Hobson’s efficient passing—145 yards and two touchdowns on 11‑of‑12 attempts—kept the Rams ahead. Grace ran 17 fewer plays and accumulated 62 fewer total yards, yet the efficient aerial attack proved decisive.
Grace’s defense forced a crucial turnover when Jiden Butler fumbled on an 11‑play run series, allowing the Rams to recover and later convert the possession into points. Thomas, operating from a Wildcat formation, found Hobson for a 24‑6 lead with 2:17 left in the third quarter.
Coaches’ perspective
Head coach Justin Price praised his team’s resilience, saying, “Elite teams respond when they get knocked down. The way our players and coaching staff responded is exactly the culture we’re building.” He added that the Rams must maintain this focus as they head into a pivotal Week 11 matchup against CAK, which could determine the top seed.
Price emphasized the importance of a growth mindset, noting, “Even when we win, we ask ourselves how we can reach our potential each week.”
Looking ahead
Grace now prepares to travel to Notre Dame (4‑5) next week, while CAK (8‑1, 6‑1) will host Lakeway (7‑2, 4‑2). If CAK loses and Grace wins, Grace will claim the No. 1 seed. If both win, CAK retains the top spot via its earlier tiebreaker victory over Grace on Oct. 15.
The Rams’ strong finish, highlighted by Thomas’s perfect 3‑for‑3 passing record this season (39 yards, three touchdowns), and Hobson’s confidence in executing the game plan, set a positive tone for the remainder of the regular season.
Original reporting: Knox TN Today — read the source article.
