Get your own Free Home PageThe first half between Smith and Grimsley Friday night at Manzi Stadium was the defensive struggle that everyone expected.
After a 7-7 halftime tie that saw each team get only three first downs, the second half belonged to a pair of Golden Eagle offensive players, Brandon Free and Dasharn Russell, and the result was a 33-14 NCHSAA victory for Smith.
Free caught four passes for 107 yards from BLS quarterback Duane Taylor, including a 25-yard touchdown toss in the fourth quarter that answered a 56-yard scoring run by the Whirlies' Paul McGee. Free's TD reception was the decisive plays it the contest, according to the Whirlies' first-year coach.
"We knew that Smith would throw long to Free," new Grimsley mentor Barry Stewart said. "We had prepared for it, but he still got open. After we scored (to make it 21-14), we wanted to get a defensive stop, but Smith executed well on that next drive and that settled things right there."
The Golden Eagles (3-2) got several nice runs from tailback Mike Able to keep that drive alive. Then Taylor found Free behind the Whirlie secondary and the senior wideout stretched out and made the decisive catch.
"The kids showed a lot of heart coming back after that score by McGee," Smith coach Tony McKee said. "We needed an answer and we got it."
Perhaps the most important thing to happen to Smith on this night was the re-emergence of Russell as a potent rushing threat. The small senior tailback ran like he did for three-fourths of last season, when he gained more than 1,000 yards rushing. He carried the ball 15 times for 72 yards and a touchdown, and Russell had a 61-yard TD called back on a clipping penalty. Able added 29 yards on nine carries and sophomore fullback J.J. Thompson added 39 yards on 13 carries with two TDs. A five-yard Thompson run broke open 7-7 tie that the two teams took to the locker rooms at halftime. He added a one-yard plunge after a 39-yard Free reception.
Russell had been in a slump that in many ways stretched all that way back to the Grimsley game last season, when he pulled a groin that did not fully heal the rest of the campaign. Going into the game, he had less than 100 yards in Smith's first four games, but on this night he was his old self, following his blockers and then running to daylight.
"Good timing on his part," McKee said, referring to the fact that Smith opens the conference next week at Parkland (3-1). "The real season starts now."
Overall, the Smith offense did more against Grimsley than any team this season. The Whirlies had been allowing only five points per game, but the Golden Eagles totalled 241 yards and nine first downs, most of it in the second half.
The Smith defense did its part too. Linebackers Shamaree Brown and P.J. Southerland were everywhere on this the first night of the season when a little fall was in the air. While Southerland had the more impressive hits, Brown totalled a game-high 12 tackles. Southerland finished with 11.
The talented linebacking duo had plenty of help. Brandon Summers and Wesley Tyler turned in their best performances of the season. Summers had nine tackles and Tyler eight. Reserve defensive back Kemar Dunn added six tackles and a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown. Montis Lash was in on seven tackles and had a fumble recovery, while Antonio Williams was credited with six tackles, including a sack.
Grimsley managed 171 yards and just seven first downs.
McKee said the mandatory two days off before Friday night's game due to Hurricane Floyd interrupting all school activities may have been a blessing in disguise.
"Maybe it helped us," McKee said. "I think it gave us some time to nurse some wounds and get our legs back."
Counting its two scrimmages, Smith has already played seven games.
McGee paced Grimsley (3-1-1) with 94 yards on nine carries.
Next Friday night's game at Parkland will start at 7:30. The Mustangs edged West Forsyth 24-20 Friday night.
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