Freeman’s ‘swipe’ helps lift Gratz over King

Daqwan Freeman is doing so well in his freshman classes at Simon Gratz High, one of his teachers is talking about skipping him to 10th grade.

Hey, right about now, he probably could replace the principal.

Friday, with Gratz and Martin Luther King locked in a 28-28 tie and one play away from heading for overtime in a Public AAA game at Germantown's Benjamin Johnston Memorial Stadium, Freeman raced 84 yards on a "fumble return" to produce the miracle of a 34-28 victory.

Fumble return is in quotes because Freeman stole the ball!

The play began with 10 seconds left, heading toward the south end zone. Freeman, a 5-7, 165-pound defensive end, was lined up on the far side.

"I cut through the tight end and went for the quarterback," Freeman said, referring to Curtis Witherspoon. "He rolled out and our guys were having trouble getting him down [on a 19-yard scramble], so I ran over just thinking I'd help with the tackle.

"But you know how guys, when they're getting stood up, sometimes hold out the ball a little in front of them? That's what happened [tight to the sideline in front of the home-side stands]. The ball was right there at chest level. Just had to grab it.

"My first thought was 'Let's go!' I just wanted to run as fast as I could. I didn't think anybody was gonna get me. I was looking a little to my side. I saw shadows on the ground. I could tell it was my guys, because they had their arms in the air. Nobody could keep up with me. Not even my teammates.

"I'm so happy. I can't believe this happened."

Especially on an empty stomach.

"At 12 o'clock, I had an appointment to get my braces tightened," Freeman said. "That's usually when I'd be having lunch. I didn't get to eat, so I was feeling pretty nauseous."

Until the clock read 0:00 and Gratz owned the W.

The Bulldogs, who were guided by the assistants (coach Erik Zipay has begun a stretch of unknown length on administrative leave), received 144 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries from Spencer Moses. Khalil Brown ran for one TD and passed for another. *