San Diego U-T Preps

Grossmont bounced back from its opening-season loss to even its record at 1-1 with a 37-21 win Friday night over visiting Olympian.

The victory felt much needed for the Foothillers, who dropped their season opener at home last week to Bishop’s after starting last season 8-0 and making the Open Division playoffs, where they lost a 49-48 thriller to Mission Hills.

Sophomore quarterback Jaime Odom took every snap for Grossmont a week after sharing quarterback duties with senior Dylan Smith.

“It was Odom’s turn, and he got 21 points (early in the second) quarter and we felt like we didn’t want to mess up that mojo,” Grossmont coach Tom Karlo said.

It was running back Shevell Sterling Jr. who started the scoring for the Foothillers, punching in a touchdown from 2 yards out. He rushed for over 100 yards for the game.

Odom added his own 2-yard scoring run later in the half, but not before he connected with Desmond Carter on a short throw that Carter turned into a dazzling 31-yard touchdown.

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Sterling did the same in the third quarter, catching a short pass over the middle before leaving several Olympian (1-1) defenders in his wake en route to a 52-yard touchdown.

Junior Thomas Mangum sealed the victory when he got behind the defense, hauled in a perfectly lobbed pass from Odom and outran everyone for a 77-yard score.

“Odom is very even-keeled,” his coach said. “He doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. And when we needed a touchdown, he threw a long one.”

Riggins is a freelance writer.