Grazia’s catch is ‘SportsCenter’ top play

Joey Grazia grew up watching ESP N’ s “SportsCenter” over and over again to the point his mother would ask him if that’s all he was ever going to watch.

This morning, Grazia isn’t just watching “SportsCenter.”

He’s on it.

A senior defensive back at Kirtland, Grazia was No. 1 on SportsCenter’s Top Plays for Nov. 21 after his brilliant one-handed, toetapping catch in the Hornets’ 38-0 win over Ironton in the Division V state championship game.

“It’s amazing,” said Grazia shortly after waking up Nov. 22. “People were telling me the catch would be ‘SportsCenter’ Top 10, and I was like, ‘ Yeah, yeah ...’ Didn’t believe it.

“But then I woke up this morning and saw like 50 to 100 texts. I was like, ‘Wow!’”

ESPN ’s spor t sc a st er marveled at the play in announcing it as the day’s top play.

“Kirtland, Ironton, Ohio Division V state championship game,” the ESPN sportscaster said. “Joey Grazia. Are you kidding me? You are the big man on campus. Team wins in a rout, and he’s got the top play.”

The play drew oohs and aahs from everyone at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium when it happened in real time.

Facing third-and-7 from the Ironton 34 in the first half, and with Kirtland clinging to a 3-0 lead, Kirtland QB Liam Powers lofted a high pass down the home team sideline.

Grazia one-handed the catch, dragged his toe in front of defender Landen White and kept control of the ball. The play was originally ruled incomplete, but when the play went to the review booth, it was overturned.

“I saw the trajectory and knew it was a little long,” Grazia said of the pass. “I didn’t know exactly where I was (in regard to the sideline). I had to catch it clean because I knew there wasn’t much room. Somehow I got my foot down.”

Grazia said he doesn’t pra c tice one -ha nded grabs — it just happens. Though he did say he made a one-handed interception in practice on a corner route to teammate Gage Sullivan.

A year ago, it was Sullivan making the highlight-reel, one-handed grab against Ironton in the D-V state championship game won by Kirtland, 17-7.

This time, it was Grazia’s turn, and it earned him top billing on SportsCenter.

Grazia finished the game with five catches for 51 yards. Defensively, he had a solo tackle. The team leader with 28 pass breakups this year did not have a pass thrown his way on defense.

“I’ve been up for 25 minutes and I’ve watched that play 15 to 20 times,” he said. “It’s cool to see that happen in the biggest game of your life. No matter how many times I watch it, it doesn’t get old.”

PAUL DICICCO — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD Kirtland’s Joey Grazia makes a first-down catch along with sideline Nov. 21 during the Division V state final against Ironton at Massillon. It was initially ruled incomplete before being overturned by replay review.