High School

Grimsley roars back in second half to defeat Weddington in North Carolina Class 4A semifinals: Live updates recap

Whirlies trailed 10-0 at halftime in 35-23 playoff victory over defending champion Weddington

Bob Lundeberg

Grimsley running back Mitchell Summers.
Grimsley running back Mitchell Summers. / Anthony Wooten

Grimsley (14-0) will host Weddington (13-0) on Friday in a Class 4A state semifinal. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern time from Jamieson Stadium in Greensboro.

Grimsley is coming off a 35-28 victory over Hough. Senior tailback Mitchell Summers ran for 302 yards and two touchdowns for the Whirlies while junior quarterback Faizon Brandon, a five-star Tennessee commit, had three touchdown passes. 

Weddington, the defending 4A state champion, took down East Forsyth in the quarterfinals, 37-21. The Warriors have won 19 straight games dating back to last season. 

Grimsley vs. Weddington Recap

First quarter

Underway: Grimsley gets the ball first tonight and returns the opening kickoff to the 21. 

Field conditions: The Grimsley natural grass field looks a bit rough. It’s tough to have a pristine grass field in mid-December. 

Grimsley punt: The Weddington defense surrenders one first down before stiffening. The Warriors will begin their first drive at their own 43. 

Weddington on the move: Quarterback Gregory Fee and running back Nick Diamond are looking good early. Weddington has it first-and-10 from the Grimsley 13. 

Field goal Warriors: Owen McNulty connects on a 31-yard field goal to put Weddington up 3-0 with 2:21 remaining in the opening quarter. 

End of quarter: Weddington 3, Grimsley 0. That quarter flew by. 

Second quarter

Grimsley punt: Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon is stopped on a third-down keeper. Weddington takes over at its own 38. 

Missed field goal: After converting his first field goal attempt, Owen McNulty is just wide left on his second try from 32 yards. Whirlies, trailing 3-0, will have it at their own 20 when play resumes. 

Fourth-down stop: Bryce Larson makes a big stop on Grimsley running back Mitchell Summers on a fourth-and-four. Weddington takes over at its own 43. 

Warriors marching: A Gregory Fee keeper sets Weddington up with a first-and-10 at the Grimsley 18. 

Touchdown Warriors: Nick Diamond punches it in from two yards out to put Weddington up 10-0 with 18 seconds remaining in the half. 

Halftime: Weddington 10, Grimsley 0. Warriors will get the ball to start the second half. 

Third quarter

Play resumes: Weddington begins the second half at its own 31. 

Weddington fumble: Grimsley, trailing 10-0, gets a much-needed fumble recovery at the Weddington 41. Jasiah Hussey fell on it for the Whirlies. 

Touchdown Whirlies: Kaden Catoe takes a quick screen pass from Faizon Brandon 39 yards to the house. Weddington 10, Grimsley 7, 9:56 remaining in the period. Grimsley could not have asked for a better start to the half. 

Warriors on the move: Brody Anson catches a short pass and rumbles all the way to the Grimsley 19. 

Touchdown Warriors: What an answer from Weddington as Gregory Fee connects with Javon Barber for a 16-yard touchdown on a post route. Weddington 17, Grimsley 7, 6:56 to go in the quarter. 

Strip sack: Four-star junior Aiden Harris strips Faizon Brandon of the ball on a sack. Weddington recovers at the Grimsley 15. 

Warriors punt: Bryce Davis gets a big sack to push Weddington back, and the Warriors are forced to punt. Grimsley, trailing 17-7, takes over at its own 20. The poor field conditions contributed more to the play than Davis, but a sack is a sack.

Touchdown Whirlies: Kaden Catoe hauls in a perfect deep ball from Faizon Brandon for a 55-yard touchdown. Weddington 17, Grimsley 14, 1:02 left in the quarter. 

End of quarter: Weddington 17, Grimsley 14.

Fourth quarter

Weddington punt: Kosci Barnes with a huge third-down tackle for loss on what appeared to be a broken play. Grimsley takes over at its own 43 following a Weddington punt. 

Touchdown Whirlies: Faizon Brandon to Kaden Catoe AGAIN. This time for 46 yards on a busted coverage. Grimsley 21, Weddington 17. What a comeback for the Whirlies. 

Weddington punt: Warriors can’t get anything going and punt it back to Grimsley with 7:49 remaining. First-and-10 Whirlies from their own 26. 

Touchdown Whirlies: Mitchell Summers takes it in from 45 yards out to put Grimsley up 28-17 with 6:53 to go. That is 21 straight points for the Whirlies. 

Touchdown Warriors: Weddington isn’t out of this one. Gregory Fee connects with Jonathan Manley for a 45-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion run fails on a great tackle by Jasiah Hussey, but Grimsely’s lead is trimmed to 28-23 with 5:59 remaining.

Timeout Warriors: Weddington calls its first timeout with 2:52 remaining. Grimsley has picked up one first down on this drive on a fabulous pitch and catch from Brandon to Patrick Carter. 

Touchdown Whirlies: Mitchell Summers explodes up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown that will likely put this one away. Grimsley 35, Weddington 23, 1:56 remaining. 

Warriors driving: Weddington, needing a miracle, is in Grimsley territory. 

Interception: Jasiah Hussey ends the comeback attempt with an interception. 

Final: Grimsely 35, Weddington 23. Grimsely eliminates the defending Class 4A state champions with a huge second-half rally. 

Pregame

Kickoff: We are approaching 30 minutes until kickoff between Grimsley (14-0) and Weddington (13-0). Should be a great one tonight in Greensboro.

Weather: It was a cloudy day in Greensboro. Temperature is expected to be in the mid-40s at kickoff with a slight chance of precipitation under the lights. 

Grimsley offensive leaders: Junior quarterback Faizon Brandon (141 of 186 passing, 2,374 yards, 30 touchdowns, one interception, 582 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, five-star Tennessee commit); Senior running back Mitchell Summers (240 carries, 2,073 yards, 45 total touchdowns); Junior wide receiver Kadon Catoe (54 receptions, 703 yards, eight touchdowns); Junior tight end D.J. Howerton (14 catches, 261 yards, seven touchdowns)

Weddington offensive leaders: Senior quarterback Gregory Fee; Junior running back Brody Anson; Senior running back Nick Diamond; Junior wide receiver Kelson Tate; Junior wide receiver Jonathan Manley; Senior tight end Joseph Madden

Grimsley defensive leaders: Senior defensive lineman Bryce Davis (78 total tackles, 17 sacks, 30 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, four-star Duke signee); Junior linebacker Drew Searls (73 total tackles); Senior safety Jasiah Hussey (35 total tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups); Junior cornerback Kosci Barnes (36 total tackles, three interceptions, three pass breakups)

Weddington defensive leaders: Junior defensive lineman Aiden Harris (four-star prospect); Junior defensive lineman Andrew Harris (four-star prospect); Senior linebacker Braeden Barger

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Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports

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Bob Lundeberg
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