Grimsley Starts Fast and Cruises to 56-0 win over Southeast Guilford

Grimsley Starts Fast and Cruises to 56-0 win over Southeast Guilford
from and courtesy of Mike Fanning, covering the 2023 Grimsley Whirlies football team for GreensboroSports.com

The third annual Grimsley ‘Roll of Honor” game saw the Whirlies start fast and never look back as they cruised to a 56-0 conference win over Southeast Guilford tonight at Jamieson Stadium. The Whirlies displayed an up-tempo offense that struck early and often that was only outdone by the military parachute team that landed at halftime. By the time the first half ended, Grimsley had scored 7 touchdowns on 7 possessions and the rout was on.

About the only thing that went right for Southeast Guilford was winning the opening coin toss. They decided to defer to the second half and kicked off to start the game. Trying to steal early momentum, Southeast coach Earl Bates dialed up an onside kick that was nearly recovered by the Falcons. Unfortunately, by the time it was recovered the Falcon player was out-of-bounds allowing the Whirlies to start their first drive with excellent field possession.

Coming out with an up-tempo offense, quarterback Faizon Brandon led the team 52 yards down the field, connecting with Terrell Anderson for a 30-yard touchdown pass. Grimsley successfully converted a 2-point try when kicker Jackson Henry threw a pass to Anderson on the try. Now leading 8-0, Grimsley kicked off and the Falcons could only advance the ball to their own 22-yard line. After a three-and-out, Southeast had their punt blocked and Grimsley recovered at the Falcons 15-yard line.

Grimsley only needed three plays as Michell Summers dashed in for a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 15-0. The Falcon’s next drive resulted in some first-downs but ended with a punt forcing Grimsley to start their third drive on the Southeast 28-yard line. It only took a few plays to go 72 yards and for Brandon to find Anderson for his second touchdown reception of the night to make it 21-0.

But the Whirlies were not done in the first quarter. After a Falcon three and out, Grimsley took a short field and converted it into points compliments of a Mitchell Summers 12-yard touchdown run to make it 28-0. The defense did not want to be outdone by the offense, and they were able to sack Falcon quarterback to make it 4th and 30 to finally close out the first stanza.

The second quarter saw more of the same, as the Grimsley offense worked quickly, looked sharp and played efficiently. With 11:34 left to play in the second quarter, Terrell Anderon caught another Brandon well-placed ball from 30 yards out to make it 35-0 and on the next Grimsley possession, Grimsley would go 91 yards in 4 plays and Brandon would find a wide-open Jeremiah Deese from 19 yards out to make 42-0. Finally, Mitchell Summers would scamper in from 12 yards out before the halftime bell to make it 49-0.

Southeast Guilford was without starting quarterback Johnathan Davy and tailback Ian McKinnon. Falcon running back Teriq McLaughlin ran hard but could barely get going and backup quarterback Jermaine Harris did his best to extend plays but the Whirlie defense was relentless and created constant pressure. Wide receiver Travis Covington tried to make plays along the boundary, but the Whirlies rallied to the ball with outstanding linebacker play all night.

The Grimsley starters would only play the first half as the second half saw a running clock. Grimsley would score on their first possession of the third quarter to make it 56-0 and 8 straight touchdown scoring drives to open the game.

Faizon Brandon ended the game 14 of 17 for 187 yards and 4 touchdowns. Summers only rushed for 59 yards but ended with 3 touchdowns and Terrell Anderson caught 5 balls for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Six different Whirlies caught passes in the first half, a new season high for Grimsley.

Grimsley travels to Northwest Guilford next week to continue conference play while Southeast Guilford travels to Northern Guilford.

About the Roll of Honor Game:

In 1950, concurrent with the dedication of Jamieson Stadium, the family of Sigman Selig Pearl erected a bronze plaque, dedicated not only to their son, but to all 99 Greensboro Senior High Schools students and alumni who went to fight in WWII and never came home.

The bronze plaque was placed in a “Memorial Room’ located inside the fieldhouse at south end of the stadium. The plaque immortalizes the 2 women and 97 men that were killed in the line duty and sacrificed their lives for our freedom in the second world war.

The Memorial Room represents families that, when the country had a need, Guilford County Schools and Greensboro seniors stepped up. Since taking over as Athletic Director, Ethan Albright has had the plaque restored and now the players enter the field for every game passing through the “Memorial room” to remember the alumni who have come before.

Of those 99 names. John Albright.

John Albright is Ethan’s Dad’s cousin.