Grant runs to daylight
Senior running back totals 154 yards, scores game-winning TD as Marist edges Brother Rice
Other than at the end of blowouts, Marist’s Jamari Grant didn’t get much playing time last season.
His biggest contributions occurred during practice as the scout team’s running back.
While not glamorous, that role not only helped prepare the Marist defense for the opponent that particular week, it made Grant a better player.
Brother Rice found that out Friday night.
Grant, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior, rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown to lead Marist to a 20-16 CCL/ESCC Blue win over the visiting Crusaders.
Grant’s 53-yard TD run with 9:14 left in the fourth quarter gave the RedHawks (2-0, 1-0) a four-point lead against Rice (1-1, 0-1). When Grant took the handoff from quarterback Dontrell Jackson Jr., he didn’t anticipate getting
to the end zone.
“I thought I’d get 5 yards,” Grant said. “But my O-line gave me that block, and I took off.”
With the home crowd on its feet and the magnitude of the MaristRice rivalry on his shoulders, Grant darted near the left sideline trying to elude a host of defenders in hot pursuit.
“I felt the defense breathing down the back of my neck,” Grant said. “I just ran as fast as I could.”
While making his way to the end zone, Grant experienced another feeling.
“It felt like a normal football game,” he said. “It felt like COVID didn’t exist anymore. It was an awesome feeling.”
The win by the RedHawks snapped a three-game losing streak to their rival.
Jackson, who completed 9 of 18 passes for 102 yards and two TDs, had high praise for how Grant handled his role last season.
“It shows his character,” Jackson said. “Every practice, he never
got too high, he never got too low. He was always ready to learn. He would always ask me questions. You got to love that kid.”
Marist coach Ron Dawczak
believes Grant brings more to the table than his running skills.
“Nowadays everyone wants immediate gratification,” Dawczak said. “Jamari put his nose down and kept working. He had the least glamorous position as scout team running back. He took a beating. To go through that experience and see what he’s doing as a senior is a great example for the younger guys in our program.”
In spite of not receiving much playing time last season, Grant didn’t get discouraged.
“I just did my job and tried my best to help our defense get prepared,” he said. “It was fun.”
But not as much fun as he had Friday.
“No, this was more fun,” he said with a grin. “And to be able to do it against Brother Rice made it even more special.”
Jackson, a Coastal
Carolina recruit, had fun firing a pair of TD passes. His 6-yard dart to Jimmy Rolder in the second quarter gave Marist a 7-0 lead.
His 25-yard bullet to Tim Warr tied the game 14-14 in the third quarter.
“Those were two really good passes by Dontrell,” Dawczak said. “He’s special.”
Brother Rice quarterback Jack Lausch completed 19 of 33 passes for 153 yards, including a 7-yard TD pass to Willie Shaw.
Khary Shaw rushed for 37 yards and a TD for Rice, which led 16-14 after Mike Fahy tackled Marist’s Joe Dochee Jr. in the end zone for a safety.
Grant, however, saved the day for Marist.
“They broke a couple of big plays,” Brother Rice coach Brian Badke said. “Our guys played hard. We just came up a little short at the end.”