Whirlies survive East Forsyth’s upset bid 35-21
Posted By Andy Durham on October 30, 2007
Despite being outplayed for most of the evening Grimsley got past East Forsyth 35-21 to clinch 2nd place in the Metro 4-A. Zach Maynard threw for 2 TD passes and ran for another to pace the Whirlies offense and the Grimsley defense forced three fourth quarter interceptions to stymie the Eagles efforts to pull the upset.
East dominated the first half in terms of pace and time of possession as the Eagles had a three to one advantage in time of possession but went to the locker room trailing 21-14. The Eagles stuck first capitalizing on a muffed punt deep in Whirlie territory as Christian Smith scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 1yd blast to complete a 4 play 16 yard drive. Grimsley though responded in kind with a 11 play 90 yard drive that took just over five minutes ending in a 12 yard Maynard to Stevens scoring toss to leave the scored tied at seven after the first period of play.
East responded with a 14 play 70yd nine minute drive with Smith again doing the honors with another one yard burst to give the Eagles a 14-7 edge. But the lead was short lived as Maynard sprinted 61yds to a score on the very next play from scrimmage to tie the contest. After holding the Eagles three and out Lashawn Brown returned a punt deep into East territory and three plays later Maynard hit Schultz on a 11yd scoring toss to allow the Whirlies to take the lead into the dressing room.
Twice East moved into position to tie the contest but both times they were turned away. First a drive deep in Grimsley territory came up short as Smith was stuffed on 4th and inches. Early in fourth East again drove into the Whirlie red zone. Then came the play that turned the tide for good as an ill advised pass into double coverage resulted in a perfectly executed tip drill putting the ball into the hands of defensive back Seth O’Dell who went Space Ghost coast to coast 99yds for a TD and a 28-14 Whirlie advantage. On the next possession the issue was decided for good as another Whirlie theft of a Eagle pass put Grimsley on the doorstep at the East 12. Three plays later David Ray put the game away with a score from seven yards away. East added one in the closing minutes to close the gap.
With the win Grimsley goes to 9-1, East drops to 4-6.
Keep it up, Playoffs comin’, GO WHIRLIES!