Eagles defense continues to make strides in 30-20 win over Jaguars

by Michael Smith


The defense for the Grain Valley football team continues to make strides.

It was a rough start to the season for that side of the ball for the Eagles as they gave up an average of 33.3 points per game during the first three games of the season.

In a Week 4 contest against Platte County, the Eagles made a big jump on defense, holding Platte County to just 238 total yards and forcing three turnovers in a 45-24 victory.

That momentum continued in Friday’s non-conference matchup with Blue Springs South. Grain Valley limited the Jaguars to 335 total yards, including surrendering just 120 on the ground during a 30-20 win at Larry Stewart Memorial Stadium.

“We knew we had to step up because we had big expectations coming in from last game,” Grain Valley junior cornerback Jordan Fuller said.

In the last two games, the defense has held opponents to just 22 points per game. The Eagles were getting consistent pressure on South starting quarterback Ayden Wilhelm and totaled four sacks, three of which came on bad snaps from the Jags.

“Coach (Matt) Curts came to us after that Oak Park game and laid the hammer on us,” Grain Valley senior safety Gabe Storment said. “He held us accountable and that is what led to the success on the field.

“His biggest message was to stop being really good for nine plays and then being really bad on the 10th. We’ve got to be good 100 percent of the time.”

The defense helped keep the Eagles (4-1) afloat in the first half as it only allowed seven points to South in the first 24 minutes. After Ben Drinkwater missed a 35-yard field goal attempt on Grain Valley’s opening possession, South quarterback Ayden Wilhelm took advantage as he hit junior Cameron Sanders in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard scoring pass to go up 7-0.

The Eagles (4-1) responded on the next drive as senior running back Ty Williams had a 46-yard run that set up 10-yard TD jaunt, in which he broke two tackles on his way to pay dirt at the 3:53 mark in the first.

Late in the second half, Fuller intercepted a deep pass over the middle from Wilhelm, making an over-the-shoulder catch, which set up Grain Valley at its own 44-yard line following a personal foul penalty on the Eagles.

“I dropped back and I saw a post coming,” Fuller said. “I just made a good catch.”

A 38-yard reception by Williams from senior quarterback Sal Caldarella allowed Drinkwater the chance at a 48-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half. He made it to put his team up 10-7 going into the break.

Williams continued his breakout season in the second half.

On the Eagles’ first possession, Williams’ 14-yard run on third-and-8 and Caldarella’s 3-yard scamper on fourth-and-2 from the South 16, set up a Williams 4-yard Td run at the 4:24 mark in the third.

After forcing South to punt on its ensuing possession, he caught a swing pass from senior quarterback Sal Caldarella and broke two tackles on his way to a 60-yard TD reception to make it 24-7 with 1:02 left in the third period.

“I like being able to catch the ball, it’s fun,” Williams said. “It’s part of my versatility. If the opposing defense stops me when I am running it, the coaches can put me out there, and I can catch balls.”

Wilhelm’s TD passes of 63 and 13 to senior wide receiver Caysen Stevenson was sandwiched around a Williams 54-yard scoring run with 3:56 left that gave Grain Valley enough cushion to come away with a double-digit win.

After the game, Williams credited some of his success to the defense.

“It’s been huge,” Williams said of the defense’s improvement. “They have been taking pressure off me and the whole offense. They are out there working their butts off.”

Williams powered the offense once again as he finished with 235 rushing on 25 carries and caught four passes for 125 and totaled four TDs. The senior now has 1,102 yards and 16 TDs on the ground, averaging 220.4 yards per game.

“The offense continues to do a great job blocking and our quarterback (Sal Caldarella) continues to make the right reads,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said. “Ty did a great job catching it and running with it.”

Caldarella, who utilized a bevy of single-read, quick throws, completed 15 of 26 passes for 179 yards and a score. He was able to do that because of South’s cornerback playing 5-plus yards off of Grain Valley’s receivers.

​“We throw to grass,” Allie said of the quick throws. “If you give us that much space, we’re going to take it. If we get five yards, that’s a great play.”

The Eagles defense swarms to the football for the stop. Photo credit: Clara Jaques

Senior running back Ty Williams powered the offense once again as he finished with 235 rushing on 25 carries and caught four passes for 125 and totaled four TDs. The senior now has 1,102 yards and 16 TDs on the ground, averaging 220.4 yards per game. Photo credit: Clara Jaques

Photo credit: Clara Jaques