Providence Day gives its first-year coach a big win over Latin in his debut
BY STEVE LYTTLE
He was happy. He was relieved. And, Chad Grier admitted, he also was cold.
“I enjoyed my time down there at the beach, and the weather was great,” Grier said Friday night after his Providence Day football team beat Big South conference foe Charlotte Latin 48-0.
“Yeah, it was chilly tonight. And it’s going to get colder. But I’m enjoying it.”
For the past three years, Charlotte native Chad Grier coached at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, a charter school in the Charleston suburb of Mount Pleasant. He took over a program that had finished 0-8 in 2016 and built it into a Lower State power last season.
It was similar to what he had done prior to that at Davidson Day, building a football powerhouse that won four private school state championships.
But when Providence Day found itself looking for a head football coach in May, Chargers’ officials called on Grier. The opportunity to return to his hometown was too much to turn down.
“People here have been great,” he said Friday night. “I feel very welcome here.”
And on a chilly early-October night, Grier and the Chargers made it obvious that their fans won’t have to wait for success.
Providence Day was overwhelming for Latin Friday night.
The Chargers scored on their opening possession. Then they forced a Latin fumble and quickly scored again. That theme continued, and Providence Day led 27-0 after the first quarter.
Chargers’ starting quarterback Jake Helfrich, a transfer from Charlotte Christian, threw three touchdowns in the opening period. He struggled in the second quarter, as the Hawks picked off three of his passes, but Helfrich recovered and fired another touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Thomas Flynn, a 6-4, 200-pound senior, caught three scoring tosses — two from Helfrich and one from Grantt Logan, a transfer from Thomas Jefferson Academy in Rutherford County.
“Both of our quarterbacks are hard-working,” Flynn said. “I feel comfortable working with either one.”
Flynn and Grier each expressed relief Friday night -- relief about finally being able to get onto the field against an opponent.
Safety protocols put in place due to COVID-19 were relaxed in early June by the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association, allowing the Chargers to begin workouts. And they kept working, throughout the summer and early fall, watching as state officials moved back the scheduled start of the season several times.
“We kept working, and we always felt that we’d eventually get out here and play,” Flynn said.
Grier said he “never had any doubts.”
“We had to wait a long time, but I really believed we’d eventually get here,” he added. “It was tough when we had delays, but the coaches and kids kept working toward this.”
WORTH NOTING
▪ Providence Day sophomore Sydney McCorkle made state history when she kicked the extra point after the Chargers’ touchdown late in the third quarter. She became the first girl ever to score a point in a NCISAA private school football game.
▪ The Chargers ran up 203 yards’ total offense in the first quarter. They had only 1 yard in the second quarter.
▪ Providence Day’s defense was spectacular. The Chargers held Charlotte Latin to 110 total yards -- and only 44 yards in the first half. Senior defensive lineman Zach Lohavichan forced a Charlotte Latin fumble on the Hawks’ first possession, and he had two tackles for losses. Sophomore defensive lineman Carson Parker had two key tackles in the first quarter that halted Latin drives.
▪ Charlotte Latin is a very young team, starting several freshmen and sophomores. Quarterback Justin Wheeler, one of those sophomores, was put under heavy pressure all night but managed to pass for 108 yards.
▪ About 25 parents of Providence Day senior players were permitted into the game. The Charlotte Latin stands were empty.
BY STEVE LYTTLE
He was happy. He was relieved. And, Chad Grier admitted, he also was cold.
“I enjoyed my time down there at the beach, and the weather was great,” Grier said Friday night after his Providence Day football team beat Big South conference foe Charlotte Latin 48-0.
“Yeah, it was chilly tonight. And it’s going to get colder. But I’m enjoying it.”
For the past three years, Charlotte native Chad Grier coached at Oceanside Collegiate Academy, a charter school in the Charleston suburb of Mount Pleasant. He took over a program that had finished 0-8 in 2016 and built it into a Lower State power last season.
It was similar to what he had done prior to that at Davidson Day, building a football powerhouse that won four private school state championships.
But when Providence Day found itself looking for a head football coach in May, Chargers’ officials called on Grier. The opportunity to return to his hometown was too much to turn down.
“People here have been great,” he said Friday night. “I feel very welcome here.”
And on a chilly early-October night, Grier and the Chargers made it obvious that their fans won’t have to wait for success.
Providence Day was overwhelming for Latin Friday night.
The Chargers scored on their opening possession. Then they forced a Latin fumble and quickly scored again. That theme continued, and Providence Day led 27-0 after the first quarter.
Chargers’ starting quarterback Jake Helfrich, a transfer from Charlotte Christian, threw three touchdowns in the opening period. He struggled in the second quarter, as the Hawks picked off three of his passes, but Helfrich recovered and fired another touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Thomas Flynn, a 6-4, 200-pound senior, caught three scoring tosses — two from Helfrich and one from Grantt Logan, a transfer from Thomas Jefferson Academy in Rutherford County.
“Both of our quarterbacks are hard-working,” Flynn said. “I feel comfortable working with either one.”
Flynn and Grier each expressed relief Friday night -- relief about finally being able to get onto the field against an opponent.
Safety protocols put in place due to COVID-19 were relaxed in early June by the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association, allowing the Chargers to begin workouts. And they kept working, throughout the summer and early fall, watching as state officials moved back the scheduled start of the season several times.
“We kept working, and we always felt that we’d eventually get out here and play,” Flynn said.
Grier said he “never had any doubts.”
“We had to wait a long time, but I really believed we’d eventually get here,” he added. “It was tough when we had delays, but the coaches and kids kept working toward this.”
WORTH NOTING
▪ Providence Day sophomore Sydney McCorkle made state history when she kicked the extra point after the Chargers’ touchdown late in the third quarter. She became the first girl ever to score a point in a NCISAA private school football game.
▪ The Chargers ran up 203 yards’ total offense in the first quarter. They had only 1 yard in the second quarter.
▪ Providence Day’s defense was spectacular. The Chargers held Charlotte Latin to 110 total yards -- and only 44 yards in the first half. Senior defensive lineman Zach Lohavichan forced a Charlotte Latin fumble on the Hawks’ first possession, and he had two tackles for losses. Sophomore defensive lineman Carson Parker had two key tackles in the first quarter that halted Latin drives.
▪ Charlotte Latin is a very young team, starting several freshmen and sophomores. Quarterback Justin Wheeler, one of those sophomores, was put under heavy pressure all night but managed to pass for 108 yards.
▪ About 25 parents of Providence Day senior players were permitted into the game. The Charlotte Latin stands were empty.
