North Xtra: Gribbin adapts, succeeds as North Catholic QB
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North Catholic's Brandt Gribbin had played wide receiver for most of his football career and was set to reprise that role as the Trojans prepared last November for a first-round WPIAL Class A playoff game at Sto-Rox.
But instead of catching passes from four-year starter Martin Long, Gribbin had to step in under center when Long was sidelined with a leg injury.
Gribbin, who had been Long's backup at quarterback, didn't have much time to ponder his dilemma. But this Richland resident was effective enough as the 11th-seeded Trojans pulled off a stunning 10-8 upset against the sixth-seeded Vikings.
"I completed more passes to their receivers than I did to ours," Gribbin recalled last Friday, moments after leading North Catholic to its third victory in four starts with a 20-6 Eastern Conference decision against Riverview.
"It was nerve-racking, but I knew our team could bond together."
North Catholic (3-1 overall, 3-1 Eastern Conference) faces unbeaten Monessen at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a non-conference game at Lt. J.C. Stone Field in North Park. The 4-0 Greyhounds are the No. 4 team in the Post-Gazette's WPIAL Class A rankings.
Following that game, the Trojans visit Avonworth, a team that beat North Catholic twice last season, once in an Eastern Conference regular-season game and again in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals.
In last Friday's game against the Raiders, Gribbin reminded many of Long, running for 126 yards and completing 6 of 21 passes for 141 yards. On one of those passes, he scrambled out of trouble before finding sophomore wide receiver Ronnie Meder wide open for a 56-yard touchdown pass.
First Published September 29, 2011 12:00 am
