When Virginia Tech and East Carolina University face each other, it’s more than a showdown between two successful Division I football programs.

Last year’s game between the Hokies and Pirates held the possibility of former King’s Fork High School teammates Chuck Clark and Davon Grayson lining up against each other, but this year it actually happened — about five or more times.

Clark is the starting nickel cornerback for Virginia Tech while Grayson is a starting outside receiver for East Carolina, and both are only sophomores.

Grayson said the Pirates have certain plays in which he moves inside where Clark plays, so he said, “Going into the game, I knew that it would be a great chance I would go against him.”

“This is the first time we’ve lined up against each other since high school,” Clark said, referring to Bulldog practice sessions. He said a lot of emotions washed over him as he saw Grayson across from him on Saturday in Blacksburg.

A significant reason this showdown was so memorable for the two players is that they are far more than just former Bulldog teammates.

“It’s probably almost impossible to explain,” Clark said.

Grayson said, “We are like blood. That’s not even like my friend no more — that’s definitely my blood. We still talk every day.”

Clark said, “That’s my brother right there.”

Consequently, Saturday produced a memory they will cherish.

“That was something that I’m going to hold onto for the rest of my football career,” Grayson said. “It just felt great. We are just so blessed to be in the places that we are.”

Clark said, “This is what we always talked about,” and he mentioned being proud of both of them, curious to see how much better each of them has gotten.

Given their separate, highly competitive teams, they are now in the potentially difficult position of having to report on the other’s abilities and tendencies in the effort of stopping them.

In doing this, “it did seem weird,” Clark said, but he figured Grayson was doing the same with his teammates. “It’s just all part of the game.”

In Grayson’s freshman year, he tore his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, ending his season.

“It was tough,” he said, “especially with the year that I had before I had got hurt.”

He had caught 18 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns in six games.

“I think I’m back now, and I’m prepared to make the big plays,” he said. “I’ve greatly improved my game. My game is more mature. I work a lot more without the football.”

Grayson currently has five catches for 40 yards in three games, though none on Saturday in the Pirates’ 28-21 win.

ECU outside receivers coach Dave Nichol said, “Davon is playing like’s he’s never been injured, and that’s certainly a testament to his hard work during the rehabilitation process. He was very aggressive with it.”

In terms of Grayson’s development, Nichols said, “He’s coming along very nicely in all phases of his game, and we look forward to targeting him more and more in our offense as the season continues to unfold.”

Clark has made a major move this season by becoming a starter in the Hokies’ perennially strong defensive back corps. Pointing to the time he has devoted to hard work, he said, “It’s kind of paying off right now.”

Hokies defensive secondary coach Torrian Gray said, “Chuck Clark is a very versatile player and is steadily developing into a very solid player. Like most young players, there are ups and downs, but I feel that he has a huge upside as he develops and plays more.”

He currently leads Virginia Tech with 17 total tackles.