Grizzlies Lose Out Of State Battle

The Grace Grizzly football team traveled across state lines into Utah last Friday to take on the Rich County Rebels.  Both of these two teams are accustomed to playing teams not from their own state.  Rich County just a week prior had traveled to Bear Lake where they beat the 4A Bears 14-0.  Earlier this season, Grace faced off against one of Oregon's top ranked teams the Adrian Antelopes.  In fact their game at Rich County marked the Grizzlies fifth different out of state opponent they have faced over the last three seasons from four different states.  Like their earlier match up against Adrian, the Grizzlies' opponents last week are ranked at the top of their own state rankings.  This meant that the Grizzlies had their hands full with the Rebels in Utah. 

As the game began it was obvious that despite the similar enrollment numbers Rich County had the edge in physical size as well as number of players on the sideline.  The depth of the Rebels allowed them to keep players fresh against a Grizzly team that lost two players early in the game to shoulder injuries as well as still missing some key players still recovering from injuries sustained earlier in the season.  The speed and scheme of the Rich defense kept the pressure on the Grizzlies.  The frustrated Grace offense struggled to get the ball into the endzone despite being able to move the ball in the middle of the field.

Like the offense the Grizzly defense had a bit of a rollercoaster day.  They were able to create an early turnover and made some great stops but they also gave up some big plays because of missed assignments.  As a result the Grizzlies headed into the locker room at halftime trailing 14-0.

The Grizzlies tried to make some halftime adjustments and early in the second looked like they were playing much better.  The disciplined play didn't last however as the Grizzlies gave up two more scores and trailed 28-0 in the fourth quarter.  Grace was able to avoid the shut out with a long run from junior Carter Kimball and a two point conversion catch by Derek Hill.  This game finished in favor of the Rebels with a final of 28-8.

The loss puts the Grizzlies record at 3-3 with three games left on their schedule.  Despite the loss the Grizzlies are still very much alive in the playoff race.  In the Maxpreps rankings that the state uses for playoff rankings currently has the Grizzlies ranked in sixth place which would give them a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

The Grizzlies will look to hold onto that spot or try to move up this week when they face the Clearwater Valley Rams.  This is a long road trip for Grace.  The Grizzlies will make the trip up and back to Kooskia Idaho over a three day period.  Grace will begin the trip Thursday night driving to Jerome before making the rest of the trip on Friday to play the game.  Following the game Grace will travel to Grangeville before coming home
on Saturday.