FAIRLEA- First off, I missed about 15-20 minutes of the first scrimmage action between Greenbrier East and Midland Trail, but what I did see was a completely revamped Spartan football team with an attitude to boot.
Zayir Lee had an interception early on in the contest and set the tone early.
Nate Suttle took a touch pass in one portion of the action and raced around the right sideline for a 55-yard score. Suttle also scored one from the 3-yard line several minutes later.
Brody Hamric looked calm and poised in the pocket. He had one play where he rolled out to his right and found Kaden Stone open in the end zone for a TD. Stone had snuck by his defender and was left all alone and made a nice diving catch.
Freshman Daniel Patrick Seams made a catch, broke a tackle, and scampered away for a long score.
Austin Whitt, another ninth grader, ran extremely hard and never shied away from contact.
Backup QB, freshman Sam Gabbert, made a nice throw down the right sideline which was hauled in by Danny Butler right over a defender.
Other than a couple busted coverages, the Spartan defense looked active and was around the ball pretty consistently. Brady Tomlinson had a couple plays that really stood out including one where he burst through an opening and brought down a Midland Trail ball carrier for a big loss. Number 51 John Trout chased down the MT quarterback and dragged him down from behind for a big sack on one occasion as some young players for East are making their case early for some time on the field this year.
At one point in a huddle, a Spartan coach yelled out, “No one will come in our house and push us around. And that will remain the same all season.” That speech came after a skirmish between the teams after Stone stood up for one of his teammates after they were knocked down by a Trail player.
There were other plays and other scores, but like I said I missed a little bit and what I just listed was done all by memory. However, East appears ready to roll. They had a JV scrimmage on Saturday and will scrimmage Petersburg High School next Friday, Aug. 22. Then, on August 29, they travel to Riverside to open up the 2025 campaign.
Stay tuned to the WVDN all season for updates, interviews, previews, and recaps.
