Grimsley Runs Away From Charlotte Catholic 42-14
from Mike Fanning for GreensboroSports.com
On another cold and windy night at Jamieson Stadium, the Grimsley Whirlies running attack, defensive front and special teams led the home team to a 21 point second quarter and a 42-14 win over the Cougars of Charlotte Catholic in the third round of the 4A playoffs.
After the Cougars opened the scoring with a 86 yard touchdown drive, the Whirlies dominated the rest of the way to the tune of six straight touchdowns. Grimsley responded on their opening drive, capped off by a 12 yard Fazion Brandon run to make it 7-7. On the ensuing Charlotte drive, Grimsley’s defensive front forced a three and out. Grimsley’s next drive went 63 yards and was again finished off by a Fazion Brandon 10 yard touchdown run, to make it 14-7.
Grimsley’s defense would then force another three-and-out and after a short punt, Grimsley would start from their own 40 yard line. Content with keeping the ball on the ground, Mitchell Summers powered in from 3 yards away and the Whirlies lead grew to 21-7 midway through the second quarter. The next Cougar drive would end when Charlotte Catholic quarterback Charlie Smith could not handle the low snap and the Whirlies pounced on the loose ball in Cougar territory. A few plays later, Summers would race in from three yards out and the Whirlies took a commanding 28-7 lead into halftime.
The second half saw Grimsley pick up right where they left off, taking the opening kickoff down the field on a nine play 71-yard touchdown drive. Mitchell Summers ran in from 7 yards away, his third touchdown of the night, and the lead was now 35-7. Charlotte Catholic would respond, going 79 yards and eating up the rest of the third quarter to make it 35-14 at the start of the fourth. The ensuing drive would again see the Whirlies score a touchdown, their sixth straight. Brandon found a wide-open DJ Howerton in the back of the end zone to make it 42-14.
Grimsley’s defensive pressure after the Cougars opening drive proved to be the difference though. CC could never get the kind of positive runs that made converting third down easy. Add in a Cougar turnover and the defense was just too much up front to run against. Grimsley was even able to get a goal line stop on 4th down midway through the fourth quarter to really put a stamp on the effort up front.
Grimsley’s offensive line looked great too, giving Summers and Brandon opportunities to make big runs. Although Brandon looked sharp throwing the ball, Grismsley stuck with the run game, and it overmatched the defense of Charlotte. Summers finished with 164 yards and three touchdowns and Brandon picked up 67 yards on the ground and two scores. Grimsley will now play Hough next Friday night.