Three Massive Plays you probably forgot about in Grimsley 35-23 win

Three Massive Plays you probably forgot about in Grimsley 35-23 win.
from Mike Fanning, for GreensboroSports.com

As the Grimsley High School football team begins to prepare for the State Championship against Rolesville this coming Friday, I had to re-watch the win over Weddington. In such an action packed game, with so many tremendous plays, I needed another chance to relive the excitement. And during my re-watch I found three plays that ended up having a MASSIVE impact on the final score. What’s even more crazy is that I was there, live and in-person, and I had completely forgotten about these plays! So with no further adieu, my three biggest plays that you too probably forgot about.

Play number one: Grimsley’s Bakary Coulbary tackle on 3rd and 13 with 2:59 left in the first. It came on Weddington’s opening drive. On the play before, Weddington had looked like it had just completed a touchdown pass (a crazy play that saw the ball bounce out of the hands of one Warrior and then into the hands of another). But a penalty flag on Weddington erased the touchdown and backed them up five yards to replay third down from the Grimsley 16 yard line. The Warriors’ next play was a slow developing center screen. It was a great call as Grimsley was struggling to get pressure on the quarterback. Getting that free release, you could just see the defense lineman’s eyes light up, as all of sudden they were in the backfield and face to face with Weddington quarterback Gregory Fee. With the trap set, all Fee had to do was lob it over their heads to a waiting receiver and bang, an easy walk in touchdown…..except not everyone bit. Bakary Coulbary, from this defensive tackle position, was not faked, and dropped back into coverage. He was the lone blue jersey when receiver Javon Barber came across the field. Not only did Bakary read the play, but he also then reacted and made the tackle. Re-watching, there was nothing but a white jersey convoy of Weddington players and the lone blue jersey of Bakary. Not only did Coulbary make the tackle, but it also forced Weddington to kick a field goal and save Grimsley 4 very valuable points. I forgot about the defensive lineman’s fantastic read and open field tackle. It proved large, keeping the Weddington lead manageable and hope for the Whirlies alive.

Play number two: Weddington’s wildcat on 1st and 10 from the Whirlie 17-yard line midway through the 3rd quarter. Keep in mind that the Warriors running back Nick Diamond (who had been running downhill between the tackles all game, avg close to 5 YAC) had fumbled on his previous handoff. Did his fumble factor into this interesting decision, we may never know. A strip sack of Fazion Brandon had set-up the Warriors, who were up by 10, in prime position to increase the lead. And while I was thinking about the power run game of Diamond, Weddington had other ideas….a gadget play on first down. Wildcat quarterback Brody Anson took the handoff and shoveled it off to his left, the tailback then looped around to his right before handing it off to Jon Manley heading back to the left on a reverse. The issue with this play call was that the reverse happened five yards behind the line of scrimmage and when Manley tried to cut up field he slipped in the mud. It was a loss of five. Weddington, now off schedule, brought Fee back in to play quarterback. Second down was a short pass, and on third down Fee was sacked. On fourth and 28, Weddington was forced to punt. Grimsley would then go on to score 21 unanswered points. I forgot about the wildcat reverse, a play that backfired and helped Grimsley hold Weddington scoreless on a drive that started in the Whirlies red zone.

Play number three: Brandon finds DJ Howerton on third down for a 17 yard catch as time wound down in the third quarter. It wasn’t just third down, it was 3rd and 16 with the ball sitting on Grimsley’s own 14 yard line. This was the play that really got all the momentum going for Grimsley and looking back, maybe was the play of the game. Brandon had just been sacked on second down, and backed up, down 10 points, you got the feeling the Whirlies were just hanging on by a string. Yes, they had just forced a punt (see play number two from above) but the offense needed a spark. They got it in the form of an improbable quarterback scramble. With pressure immediately in his face, Brandon was forced to drop all the way back to his own goal line to evade the initial pass rush. With defenders now chasing him, Brandon rolled out to the near sideline and started to run upfield. Scanning, he located Howerton working across the middle and delivered a perfect strike. Howerton, catching in stride, was able to extend the ball just past the line to gain. An incredible throw under distress and a great catch on the move. It was a dam bursting first down. Grimsley would finish the drive off a few plays later when Kaden Catoe caught a 55 yard touchdown pass. I had forgotten about the 3rd and 16 conversions, the scramble by Fazion to avoid the sack and ball extension by Howerton to get the first down. I shouldn’t have though. An incredible play by an incredable playmaker.

With so many exciting plays, like Patrick Carter’s 36 yard catch on third down, Mitchell Summers two touchdown runs or even the three scores by Catoe, it was the plays above that made it all possible.