It will be a game Grimsley running back Mitchell Summers, and those lucky enough to see it, will never forget. Summers used his patented mixture of speed and power to rush for 296 yards and 6 touchdowns, helping the Whirlies win 56-24 and advance to the third round of the 4A playoffs. He rushed for touchdowns of 8, 2, 18, 16, 26 and 72 yards. His final carry of the night was particularly special though. Leading 49-17, Summers took the handoff and ran up the middle only to bounce it outside and outrun all the Sun Valley defenders for a 72 yard touchdown scamper that showed off his acceleration, vision and his top end speed and capped off one of the greatest nights in Grimsley running back history.
In defeating Sun Valley 56-24, Grimsley again showed it has all the tools to make a deep playoff push. Grimsley took the opening drive 65 yards on 7 plays capped off by Summers first rushing touchdown of the night to make it a quick 7-0 lead. Sun Valley would respond on their first possession as Zach Cullen ran it in to make it 7-7 with 7:21 left to play in the first quarter. The Whirlies next drive would feature Grimsley quarterback Faizon Brandon. He was able to connect with Terrell Anderson from 35 yards out to make it 14-7 and Grimsley never looked back. Brandon had an outstanding night as well, completing 13 of 19 passes for 144 yards and one touchdown.
After a Spartan three and out, Grimsley would take their final drive of the first quarter in for a touchdown, Summers was able to rush in from 2 yards out for his second score, to make it 21-7. Following another three and out from Sun Valley, Grimsley would score again early in the second quarter compliments of Mitchell Summers third touchdown of the game, this one from 18 yards out to make it 28-7. After a Spartans scored to make it 28-14, Summers would add one more score before the half, this time from 16 yards away with only 54 seconds left on the clock to make it 35-14. Summers had 16 carries in the first half for 157 yards and four touchdowns.
After halftime, Summers picked up right where he left off, scoring on the second Grimsley possession from 26 yards out to make it 42-17. Following a Deon McLaughlin pick six to extend the Grimsley lead to 49-17, Summers would take the first handoff of the next possession 72 yards to give him six rushing touchdowns on the night and a whopping 296 yards on the ground.
Summers brilliance on the ground was helped by the strong play by Grimsley’s offensive line that did not allow a sack and only allowed one quarterback pressure all night. With the run game working, Brandon had time to throw and completed several key third down throws that extended drives. Brandon found Alex Taylor four times for 51 yards and Anderson twice for 50 yards and touchdown. Kaden Catoe also caught 4 balls for 27 yards and Brandon was able to rush 5 times for 36 yards on the ground.
Grimsley defense showed up again this week, forcing three second half turnovers including Deon McLaughlin’s 27 yard pick six and a Fred Sellers interception. Senor Sun Valley quarterback Brady Turriff never got going thanks to the Grimsley pass rush as well. He finished the night 16-30 for 130 yards and one touchdown and 2 interceptions. Grimsley limited Sun Valley to just 70 yards rushing as well. Grimsley racked up nearly 490 yards in total offense in the game.
Take a bow Mitchell Summers. It will be a performance few will rarely match.