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
BOB LUNDEBERG

Bob Lundeberg is a freelance sports writer who has covered high school and college sports in the Pacific Northwest since 2009. He was inspired to write Finish, his first book, after spending four years on the Oregon State baseball beat for the Corvallis Gazette-Times and The Oregonian. He covers high school sports from a national perspective for High School On SI with reports on breaking news, trending topics and national polls.

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