Grizzlies Edge Warriors in Wild One
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style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>Grizzlies Pull Out Wild Win:
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"Verdana","sans-serif"'>There are wins teams pull out that are tough, and then
there are some victories that can only be described as improbable.
style=> File Friday night's 22-21 triumph for the
class=SpellE>Grassfield Grizzlies in the ladder category as the
Chesapeake program travelled to Suffolk and Arrowhead Stadium to take on an
improved Nansemond River Warriors squad.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>It was a back-and-forth battle much of the evening with
the defenses controlling things for the most part until Nansemond River pushed
ahead with 7:17 left to play on a 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from diminutive,
yet talented running back
normal'>Latrell 'Vegas'
class=SpellE>Sandifer. The
one answer Nansemond River had for Grassfield's
defense the whole night, Sandifer ran for 152 yards
and a touchdown on 26 carries.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Meanwhile, Grassfield's
usually outstanding running game was bottled up for the duration of the contest
and they had to go to the air more than they're accustomed to doing.
style=> With 4:36 remaining in the contest, it
appeared the Grizzlies were about to tie the game when junior quarterback
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Blake LaRussa connected
with running back Isaiah Harper for
an eight-yard touchdown pass, except the extra point to knot the score at 21
was unsuccessful.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Nansemond River was able to move the chains twice when
they got the ball back. However, a
couple of snaps that flew backwards put the Warriors in fourth-and-41 from their
own five-yard line, punting out of their end zone.
style=> Nansemond River's punter was unable to get
the kick off before Grassfield senior linebacker
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Marcus Mitchell tackled him in the end
zone for a safety that gave the Grizzlies the lead.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"They got their second first down and we had three
time-outs left. We just kept telling
them if the ball's in, you've got to tackle them, tackle them, tackle them, and
fortunately for us they had two bad snaps that really played into our hands and
allowed us to keep calling time-out," remarked Grassfield
Head Football Coach Martin
class=SpellE>Asprey afterwards.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>It was definitely not your typical kind of Southeastern
District game. Grassfield,
which has been to the regional semifinals twice since the school opened up in
2007, graduated a bevvy of seniors from last year's team and there were some sitters
for a few players making their first ever district road start.
style=> With that being the case, they leaned on one
senior on the offensive side of the ball to jump-start the offense when it was
stagnant.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Coming off a career performance in the season-opening
win over Maury where he dazzled both on special teams and at receiver,
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Paris Smith scored two more touchdowns
for a Grizzlies team that sure did need playmaking skills to even be in
position to stun the Warriors in Suffolk.
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"I've
not been in a game this crazy. It's a
great experience to play in an intense game like this one.
style=> I'm proud to serve with my boys and the red
hats were getting to the ball. Coach
said blood in the water and 11 hats to the ball, and we were able to make
enough plays," Smith stated.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"Nansemond River's defense was putting on one heck of a
show. They were stopping our run game,
which is a big part of our team. Coach
said it's your last year, and you've got to step up and make plays.
style=> I just used my talent and speed to make
plays, and we train really hard for moments like these.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Smith's two touchdowns measured 40 and 59 yards, which
included a game-tying score in the fourth period.
style=> He and his teammates believe they'll get
better from Friday night's dramatic finish as the program seeks a fifth
consecutive playoff berth in 2012.
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>"We never let our heads down.
style=> We pick our heads up throughout the whole
game. Even if we lose, we go home heads
up ready for the next week," Smith continued.
"This game's over with and we're going to move on, but down the road, we'll
definitely learn from the mistakes we made tonight and try to make sure games
don't get close, and if they do, we have to play Grizzly football."
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More Analysis & Postgame Comments
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Stats:
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Grassfield
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line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> 22:
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Blake LaRussa - - 8-17 for 153Yds. 3-0TD/Int. ratio
Paris Smith - - 2Rec. 99Yds. 2TD's
Isaiah Harper - - 8Car. 22Yds; 2Rec. 28Yds. TD; 3
Tackles
Vince Lowe - - 4Car. 13Yds; 3Rec. 26Yds; INT
Demond Dowson - - 6 Tackles, 3TFL
Blake Pitre - - 6 Tackles, 2TFL
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Nansemond
River 21:
normal'>
Latrell 'Vegas' Sandifer -
- 26Car. 152Yds. TD; 65-Yd. KR TD
Darwin Barbee - - 3-6 for 24Yds. 1-1TD/Int. ratio
Mel Giddens - - 2Rec. 20Yds.
Nate Wyche - - 1Rec. 4Yds. TD; 8 Tackles, Sack
Marvin Branch - - 7 Tackles, TFL
Damario Valentine - - 5 Tackles, TFL
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