Reese Griffin just kept popping up in all the right places. The junior lineman played a key role in Taft’s 14-12 win against visiting Curie on Saturday.
He wasn’t one of the Eagles’ standouts last season and he wasn’t one of the names coach John Tsarouchas mentioned in the preseason, but the home crowd has clearly warmed to the 6-2, 260 pound junior. The PA guy even revealed a nickname for Griffin after he came up with a big sack in the third quarter: “The Beast.”
“[Griffin] was a big part of helping the defense out and making plays today and he was a big part of those conversions in the fourth quarter that we needed to win the game,” Tsarouchas said. “He’s been the most pleasant surprise on our team so far through four weeks.”
Griffin spent the first two years of his high school football career on offense. He made the transition to offensive/defensive lineman this season.
“Reese is a really big, athletic guy that wanted to play with the ball in his hand,” Tsarouchas said. “With a little bit of maturity he embraced the move to the line.”
“I’m really happy about the decision now,” Griffin said. “All credit to my teammates. They helped me get through the big change. They really worked me and it kinda brought out a fire in me, sparked something.”
Taft (2-2, 1-0 Illini Red Bird) needed that spark badly. The Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter but struggled offensively in the second half overall.
“We had to deal with adversity and got ourselves in a tough game but we’ll be better for it in the long run,” Tsarouchas said. “We are disappointed a little bit in how we played.”
Dexter Stigall IV had a five-yard touchdown run in the first quarter for Taft and Roberto Salgado punched one in from the two-yards out early in the second quarter. The Eagles just held on after that.
“The game had its ups and downs but we held them and pulled it out,” Griffin said. “Especially that last drive, it was really great. We held them and then got the yards we needed.”
Stigall, as usual, was all over the field. He played quarterback, running back, safety, receiver, punter and punt returner. Tsarouchas says Stigall can play any position on the field.
“I was all around today,” Stigall said. “Man, I love it. When you can do so much for the team it is just great.”
It’s been a memorable week for the talented senior. He made an oral commitment to Minnesota State-Mankato, a Division 2 school, earlier in the week.
“When I walked on the campus it felt like home and my family was on board with it so I thought it was time to make a decision,” Stigall said.
Taft scores on the opening drive, 5-yard TD run by QB Dexter Stigall IV, who committed to Minnesota State this week.
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) September 21, 2019
Extra point landed on Bryn Mawr, just short of I-90. Eagles lead Curie 7-0. pic.twitter.com/7ylpot1ajP
Stigall had 22 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown and was 3-for-4 passing for 40 yards. Salgado had 17 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles didn’t break any big runs but picked up just enough key yards in the second half to keep the Condors (1-3, 0-1) at bay.
Curie quarterback Damarius Johns continued his solid season. The senior was 15-for-26 passing for 151 yards and a touchdown. The Condors weren’t able to get much going on the ground.
“It was tough but when those times come you have to become a man and I think we did that as a team today,” Stigall said. “We just kept trying to chip, chip wood until the tree fell.”
