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You are here: Home / Sports / Catholic Downs Grace in ‘Instant Classic’

Catholic Downs Grace in ‘Instant Classic’

September 22, 2017 By Dick Cook and Contributed Article 0 Comments

Photo by Connie McNamara – Christian Robinson fights for yardage during Catholics’ win over Grace, Thursday at Notre Dame’s Jim Eberle Field.

Catholic upended Grace 28-22 in an “instant classic” played under the lights at Notre Dame’s Jim Eberle field, Thursday.  The epic back-and-forth contest ended with a goal line stand.

 “Both teams are to be commended for the no quit effort shown tonight” stated Catholic Coach Billy Dearing.  “This is one of those incredible contests the boys will never forget.”

Grace’s Colton Rice provided the first score of the evening with a rumbling 22-yard run.  The big and tough runner also added the conversion, giving Grace an 8-0 lead. Catholic responded when standout Alex Osborne scored from 12 yards out.  Christian Robinson added the extra points, knotting the score 8-8. 

Grace put together a long drive on its next possession, scoring on a 14-yard run by Cooper Knecht. Grace completed a pass for the conversion, moving the score to 16-8.  Catholic responded with a long drive of its own.  Catholic managed to get to the Grace 9-yard line with only five seconds remaining in the second quarter.  On the last play of the half Osborne added another touchdown, led by linemen Andy McGann and Christian Kidwell.  The conversion attempt failed, and the score stood 16-14 Grace at the half.

Rice added another score for Grace mid-way through the third quarter, extending Grace’s lead to 22-14.  Catholic’s next possession included a couple of pass completions from quarterback Cameron Elliott to Robinson.  Catholic scored again with a Robinson run, following lead blocker Andrew Petrin.  The conversion failed, and the score stood 22-20 entering the fourth quarter.

Catholic’s defense stopped Grace on its next possession, with key tackles from Connor McNamara, Isha Davis,  Jacob Howard and George “Big Daddy” Gribben.  Catholic took the lead with just over three minutes to go when Osborne scored his third touchdown of the night.  Robinson added the conversion, giving Catholic a 28-22 lead.

Grace put together an impressive drive as the clock  become a factor.  Big gains by Rice and Knecht moved Grace all the way to Catholic’s five.  Grace had one final play.  Grace’s quarterback rolled right, escaping pressure from a hard charging McGann, then threw to the wing in the flat near the goal line. The pass was narrowly swatted away by Catholic corner Luke Smith, allowing Catholic to escape with the win.

Coach Bucky Dearing praised the effort shown by both teams. “A lot of young men gave it their all tonight, players for both teams should be extremely proud.”

Catholic’s next contest is Saturday, September 23 at 1 p.m. CDT in Murfreesboro, TN against Saint Rose.

_ Anthony Jackson

Filed Under: Community, FEATURED POSTS, Sports

About Dick Cook

Dick Cook has lived in East Ridge since the Kennedy Administration when his parents bought a house on Marietta Street. Dick graduated from ERHS in 1976 before going on to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he studied Political Science. Dick worked for the Chattanooga Free-Press and the Chattanooga Times Free Press for 22 years. Free-Press Sports Editor Roy Exum plucked him out of production in 1989 and gave him a job as a sports reporter. Dick covered everything from prep sports to the whitewater events on the Ocoee River for the 1996 Olympics. When Chattanooga's two paper's merged, he became the Crime Reporter covering both the Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments. He was among reporters who were honored by the Associated Press for the TFP's coverage of the 2002 fog-shrouded crash on I-75 in Catoosa County, Dick and his wife, Cathy, live on Marlboro Avenue where they are seen frequently chasing around their three grandsons.

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