BY RONNIE GALLAGHER
SALISBURY POST

Arnold Gaither had been playing his role to perfection all day long. The sinewy, 6-foot-6 wide receiver would run out about eight yards, turn quickly and latch onto to a Mitch Ellis pass.

He appeared to be Catawba’s possession receiver.

“That’s what they thought,” grinned Catawba coach David Bennett.

“They” were the West Georgia defensive backs. And they were woofing. There were just 3 minutes left. West Georgia was leading 24-21. Ellis’ knee was obviously hurting. And a possession receiver was not going to beat them. Not with Catawba 71 yards from paydirt.

And then, the possession receiver fooled ‘em.

Gaither, who once played his high school football for East Spencer native and Catawba grad Charles Love at North Iredell, did his usual routine. He went out eight yards and stopped.

Unfortunately, DBMarquis Floyd did too. And Gaither was gone, flying down the sidelines.

Ellis’ left knee didn’t hurt enough that he couldn’t throw an absolutely perfect pass. Gaither came down with it, Floyd tugging at his jersey.

They tumbled out of bounds at the West Georgia 18. Seventy-nine seconds later, Joe Hilliard was scoring the winning touchdown.

Yes, football fans, Catawba had done it again. When it appeared the undefeated season would end so abruptly for a second straight week, it didn’t. The Indians have another Saturday to play.

“We’ll take ‘em any way we can get ‘em,” Bennett beamed.

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The way Catawba got No. 11 in a row in the first round of the Division IIplayoffs was relying on its Mutt and Jeff combination: Gaither and 5-foot-10 Cedric Squirewell. The two combined for 18 — count ‘em, 18 — catches for 264 of Ellis’ 380 yards passing.

People prepare for Squirewell. He is the team’s second leading receiver. People don’t prepare for Gaither.

But Catawba’s offensive coordinator Jamie Snider prepares with Gaither in mind. Receivers coach Chip Hester does the same.

And with the game and the season riding on the need for a big play, they called No. 17’s number.

“We look for matchups,” explained Snider. “(Floyd) was a guy we liked matching up on. And they helped us out by playing man coverage.”

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It was second down and Floyd was playing Gaither tight. Ellis recognized it. More importantly, Gaither recognized it.

“I noticed that in the second half, they were sitting on the stop route,” he said.

“They had a smaller man on A.G. so I knew if I gave him a chance, he’d come down with the ball,” Ellis added.

Gaither did — a 53-yard completion that completely fooled Floyd and the Braves.

“I thought, ‘If I don’t get this ball, I’m letting the guys down.’” Gaither said. “Ican’t describe the feeling. Just joy. Just happy for the team and happy for the fans.”

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That’s Gaither to a tee.

“A.G. is such a team guy,” Hester gushes. “He doesn’t care who catches the ball. But that’s how all the receivers are. They pump each other up. They like taking turns.”

Gaither knew he’d get his chance because leading receiver Nick Means didn’t practice all week due to an injury. But even Means got in on the act, catching a scoring toss to pull Catawba within 24-21.

And don’t forget Ryan Millwood, who was responsible for four receptions and twice as many hugs with his Indian teammates.

But let’s face the facts. It was Gaither’s day.

He thought he had set up an earlier TDby going up over Floyd to snare an alley oop from Ellis. Catawba’s basketball players wish they could rebound as well.

That catch came with 10 minutes left. Unfortunately, tailback Kevin McKenzie fumbled into the end zone giving the ball back to West Georgia.

“I’m sure in their minds they’re thinking, ‘We got these boys,’” said Bennett.

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A Catawba loss? Gaither wasn’t buying into it. And neither was Ellis.

“This couldn’t be our last game,” Ellis said.

And for Gaither to make the big play inspired Bennett to massage Gaither’s broad shoulders in the postgame press conference.

“We’ve watched a young man go from being a freshman — a gawky freshman — to a heck of a wide receiver,” the sixth-year coach praised. “It’s unbelievable to see what Coach Hester has done with A.G. in the weight room.”

Hester calls him a wind-up guy.

“We have a spring track meet where we run the 100,” Hester said. “A.G. is pretty good in the 40, better in the 60 and even better in the 100. The longer the route, the better he’ll be.

“Cedric is more of a catch-and-run guy. A.G. is more of a deep threat.”

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And because of Gaither, Catawba is still a threat to win a national championship.

Last week, the Indians came from a 14-3, fourth quarter deficit to win at Lenoir-Rhyne. Against West Georgia, they rallied from 24-14 to win.

And Snider knows why.

“Arnold ran by the guy and the rest is history,” he said.

History is what Catawba has already made. It wants more, starting next week when Delta State visits Salisbury.

Are these dramatic finishes a thing to look for every week?

“Idon’t know about that,” chuckled Snider. “But here’s what I do know. This is an amazing group of kids. They never quit. And that’s priceless.”

What was priceless was how humble Gaither seemed to be in the news conference. It was like he didn’t think he deserved to be in there.

Believe this. After 8 catches and 146 yards, he definitely deserved to be in there.

“He’s an ol’ stringbean,” smiled Bennett, “but if he takes that shirt off, he’s got a Popeye (muscle) on him.”

Arnold Gaither must have eaten his spinach Saturday afternoon.

And because of it, Catawba was strong at the finish.

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Ronnie Gallagher is the sports editor of the Post.