Horn Lake High School junior running back Tyler Grim is used to stepping up when his team is a man down.
A year ago, Grim drew his first start on the varsity level when senior running back Peyton Logan was sidelined by injury for a game with Columbus.
Grim responded with 285 rushing yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles celebrated Homecoming with a stunning upset of the Falcons.
“He went from no one knowing who he was to everybody knowing who he was in one night,” Horn Lake coach Brad Boyette said.
Friday night at Falcon Field, Grim had his second chance against the Columbus defense. Ironically, the pregame plans were similar.
Horn Lake was playing without starting quarterback junior Raydarious Jones. That meant the Eagles were headed exclusively to the ground.
“(Being down a starter) just means you have to step up,” Grim said. “It’s your chance to step up and help the team. You can’t make excuses. You just step up and carry the load.”
Grim carried the load and then some.
He finished with 281 yards and two touchdowns as Horn Lake routed Columbus 28-2 in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 1 contest at Falcon Field.
Columbus (2-5, 1-2 region) also played without its starting quarterback. Junior Laterius Stowers missed a second straight start with a shoulder strain. That meant the Falcons also wanted to go the ground.
Mission accomplished for the visiting team.
Horn Lake ran the ball 47 times for 348 yards. Columbus ran the ball 25 times for 16 yards.
“Can’t say enough about the defense,” Boyette said. “When you play a region game on the road, you have to rely on your defense. This is a long trip for 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds. It takes a while to get adjusted and to get going in the game. The defense was outstanding. Totally dominating. We needed that because we weren’t sure exactly what we were going to get on offense.”
Boyette wasn’t sure exactly what he was going to get. However, he knew what Grim was going to deliver. Quickly emerging as one of the state’s top prospects in the Class of 2019, the 5-foot-10, 192-pound Grim rarely disappoints. Grim left Lowndes County with right at 1,000 yards for the season and 15 touchdowns.
More importantly for him, Horn Lake (6-0, 3-0) left town with its undefeated record intact.
“It’s a special season, there is little doubt about that,” Grim said. “Winning nine games (and not making the playoffs last year) really hurt. That has been our motivation. We want to win as many games as we can and leave little doubt.”
Traditionally, Horn Lake has struggled to build a competitive football program. However, this class of juniors and seniors have helped change the mind-set. Horn Lake opened region play with its first victory over South Panola since 1972.
Coach Randal Montgomery’s second Columbus team beat Horn Lake 45-13 in 2015. The Eagles were 1-27 in region games played from 2012 to 2015.
Taking the field as the better team on most nights has been a challenge.
“It’s a totally different mind-set,” Grim said. “When we won a game, it used to be a big deal. Everybody would be talking about that big win. Now, there is an expectation. We come back to school and people just expect us to have won. It’s fun. It’s different. We are keeping a level head about it. You can’t get caught up in what you have done so far, because we want to keep pushing through and do more.”
Columbus fumbled the opening kickoff. Horn Lake recovered but quickly was forced into a three-and-out.
Columbus would then have the better of field position until Grim took matters in his own hands with a 49-yard run around left end for a touchdown. That score was set up by a sack and strip of reserve quarterback Jaelen Craddieth at midfield.
Grim would add a 35-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter on his team’s next possession and quickly Columbus was in peril.
Grim ripped off five runs of 33 or more yards despite the Columbus defense playing well. Jaylen Hickman, Jordan Randle and Isaiah Karriem anchored a unit which gave the home team a chance.
The game was still in doubt at 14-2 early in the fourth quarter when a trick formation bit Columbus for a touchdown for a second straight week.
“A complete game considering our circumstances,” Boyette said. “Tyler was great but just as big was (senior wide receiver) Kyvontate (Boykins at quarterback). We asked him to manage the game, lead the team and not turn the ball over.”
Mission accomplished there as well. Columbus committed all four of the turnovers in the contest.
After being held to 106 total yards in a 44-0 loss at Tupelo, Columbus was held to 71 total yards Friday night.
Those numbers look to improve next week when Stowers is expected back for a region road game at Southaven (3-4, 2-1).
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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