Grace Moves To 4-0

The Grace Grizzlies kept their perfect season intact last Friday when they hosted Wendell in a unique 2A vs 3A game.  The two classifications rarely cross paths at the varsity level.  In this match up the teams agreed to a full game of eight man football putting the Trojans at a bit of a disadvantage as they are used to the traditional eleven man game.

The Grizzlies took advantage of their familiarity with the eight man game and dominated the Trojans all night long.  The Grizzlies started the game on defense and were still able to score in the first minute of the game.  The Grizzlies poured it on through the first half of play before sitting the majority of their varsity players.  The jv squad was able to add a score in the second half but also gave up Wendell’s only touchdown in the game.  Even with a dominating 49-8 victory this game could have been an even bigger blowout had the starters not been pulled.  With control of the game the Grizzlies tried some things that you don’t typically see them do.  Bradley Schiele went three out of four on point after kicks, something you rarely see in the eight man game.  The Grizzlies scored seven touchdowns coming from six different players including one from their center Case Williams who got to live a lineman’s dream taking a goal line handoff to paydirt.  Grace also played three different quarterbacks, ten different running backs and had six different receivers catch passes.

The dominant win moves the Grizzlies to 4-0 on the season.  This is the first 4-0 start for the Grizzlies since 2012.  The 4-0 start is impressive but Grizzly fans will need to curb their enthusiasm a little.  The Grizzlies first four opponents have gone a combined 3-11 on the season.  Conversely the Grizzlies next three opponents currently sit at 10-1.  Those three opponents are undefeated Glens Ferry, undefeated Adrian Oregon and one loss Rich County Utah.  This will be the toughest stretch of the season for Grace not only due to the quality of the opponents but also due to the school being in the middle of potato harvest.  Several of the players will spend two weeks working long ten to twelve hour days after waking up extra early to have six a.m. practices.  Historically harvest does have an effect on sports for Grace athletes, but the Grizzlies will not use that as an excuse.

Grace’s next two opponents will be undefeated when the Grizzlies face them on long road trips.  First up in Glens Ferry and despite the Pilots record and the Grizzlies being in harvest I give the Grizzlies the upper hand in this one.