CHARLOTTE — They had the moves, the rhythm and the relentlessness.
And neither missed a beat.
The Davidson Day football team and the Johnson C. Smith University band were each on a roll last Friday night, both living up to their reputations. The Smith band, long regarded as one of the best pep bands around, provided the soundtrack to the Patriots’ 59-16 win over Fayetteville’s Village Christian, the fourth varsity win in as many tries for the young team building a winning foundation.
The combination of tunes from the JCSU band, cheers from a spirited Davidson Day contingent and the lighted Charlotte skyline in the background helped the Patriots, who are playing nine road games this year, feel somewhat at home in their only “home” game of the year, at JCSU’s Irwin Belk Complex.
“It just felt live, made you want to play,” said Davidson Day’s Jordan Brown.
The Patriots scored on seven of eight first-half possessions, including on two one-play drives, and led 52-0 at the intermission before subbing liberally.
“Very pleased with our first half execution,” said Davidson Day coach Chad Grier.
Ironically, the Patriots started slow. Their first drive was a three-and-out, the first of the season and the last of the first half. Quarterback Will Grier threw three incomplete passes, and Davidson Day was forced to punt.
“It was definitely a wake-up call,” said Will Grier. “I think I got too excited, kinda overdid some stuff.”
But from there, it was all Davidson Day. Grier was 12-of-20 passing for 304 yards and six touchdown passes, including two to Aaron Seward (24, 12 yards), one to Brown (70 yards), one to Jordan Young (47 yards), one to Lamar Briggs (12 yards) and the first of the night, which went to Mike Stevens for 48 yards.
Brown and Grier also had touchdown runs, and Jordan Young returned one of his two interceptions 33 yards for a second-quarter score.
“We’re excited that that many kids are contributing,” said Chad Grier.
Davidson Day’s defense allowed just one first down in the first half, and Tre Hunt led the unit with 11 tackles, two sacks and one interception.
Good times
The Patriots are averaging 55.5 points per game entering Friday’s road game at Parkwood, a 3A Union County public school. Their average margin of victory is 34 points.
In other words, they are having a lot of fun.
“You can’t even imagine,” said Will Grier, who has already thrown for 1,446 yards and 23 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Winning so convincingly can sometimes cause complacency, but the Patriots quarterback said the team continues to work. “You always got to stay grounded, can’t take anybody lightly,” said Will Grier.
His father, the coach, said there’s no reason for his players to sit around and congratulate each other.
“We haven’t played our best game by a long shot,” said Chad Grier. “We want to play our best game Nov. 11.”
That’s the night of the N.C. Independent School Athletic Association’s Division III championship.
PATs
While there is nothing that can compare to hosting a game on the school grounds, Davidson Day appeared to have found the next best thing. Davidson Day’s athletic field does not have the sideline space or the seating to accommodate a Friday night football game, but JCSU was more than capable. “They were such gracious hosts here,” said Chad Grier. ... Davidson Day’s Brown also had an interception.
