Grizzlies Lose Shootout In Raft River

Coming off of a big win in zero week of the season, the Grace Grizzlies rolled into Malta to take on the Raft River Trojans.  The Grizzlies were on offense first and quickly established their powerful run game.  With a full senior line of Landon Moss, Carson Welch and Carson Reeves, junior running back Chase Smith seemingly gained yards at will.  Even with a dominant run game, Grace earned their first points of the night off of a laser pass from Gavin Draper to Derek Hill who sprinted forty yards to the endzone.  

After a solid defensive stand that forced a three and out the Grizzlies were on the move again.  Once again Grace looked completely in control as they moved the ball down the field, this time scoring with a pass from Draper to fellow junior Bryant Moss. 

 Any Grace hopes of another easy victory were quickly erased when Raft River earned their first score off of a long run and followed that up with a successful onside kick.  The rest of the first quarter would be a back and forth battle ending with Grace leading 14-8.  

After Raft River was able to tie the game up the Grizzly high powered offense struck back.  This time Draper hit yet another receiver, Cooper Andersen, for a score, followed by Draper taking it himself for the conversion retaking the lead 22-14.  

After each team turned the ball over on downs, Raft River got another big run from their senior running back and closed the gap to 22-20 with just over a minute left in the first half.  Grace moved quickly down the field in the closing seconds of the half and Draper hit his fourth different receiver for yet another passing touchdown, this time to Bryant Jensen.  Grace headed into the locker room leading 28-20.  

The second half started with the Trojans on offense.  Raft River made a long methodical drive, finished off with a score and tied the game once again.  On the ensuing possession Grace once again leaned on Chase Smith, who powered down the field putting Grace in scoring position.  Instead of a pass, Draper took the ball himself on this one, scrambling into the endzone for another Grizzly score.  Smith was finally be rewarded as he earned the two point conversion, putting Grace up 36-28.  

The lead wouldn't last long, however, as Raft River made another long touchdown, this time off of a busted play.  The Trojan quarterback bobbled the snap and was flushed out of the pocket.  Just before getting sacked, he flipped the ball in very unconventional fashion to his running back who had a clean path down the sideline.  That is where things ended in the third with a tie score at 36.  

The fourth quarter was a tough one for the Grizzlies.  Smith had come out of the game with leg cramps and was shortly followed by two way lineman Welch.  Already without two senior players, Braden Kimball and Trevor Mathews the loss of two more key players put the Grizzlies in a tough spot.  Raft River took advantage scoring three touchdowns taking a commanding twenty point lead at 56-36.  

Grace would continue to fight but would only manage one more score as Draper would hit his fifth different receiver in the game Parker Yost in the endzone.  The final horn would sound with Grace losing this one 56-42.  The Grizzlies will look to bounce back when they host Murtaugh for Homecoming on Friday, September 6th.