Road Weary Grizzlies Fall In Kibbie Dome

For the second season in a row the Grizzlies failed to earn a spot in the state championship game after being the most traveled team in all of 2A.  The Grizzlies racked up the miles this season unofficially earning the title of Road Warriors.  In the first round of the playoffs Grace traveled over one thousand miles in their win over Prairie and followed that up with a twelve hundred mile round trip to the Kibbie Dome in last week’s quarter final game against Logos.  When the Grizzlies arrived at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow not only had they added several miles to their season total but they arrived having added several players to their unable to play list.  Grace took their smallest number of active players on last week’s trip.  In total the Grizzlies were missing a total of six players that normally would have dressed and played in that game.  This was nothing new to the Grace football team this season.  In fact the Grizzlies have not played a single game this season when they were at what they consider their full strength.  Assistant coach Jason Kimball noted, “It would be interesting to go back and look at how many different starting line-ups we have had this season on both sides of the ball.  I don’t think we have had the same eight guys start in any one game.”  In addition to kids missing due to injury several that did play in last Friday’s game had minor injuries like broken fingers, strained muscles, as well as recovering from illness.  The beat up players and long road trips did not appear to affect the Grizzlies attitudes however.  Even facing the number two team in the state as huge underdogs didn’t dampen the spirits of the Grizzlies.  Unfortunately confidence and positive vibes don’t win games.

The Grizzlies faced off against the Logos Knights.  Logos is a private Christian school located in Moscow.  The Knights are fairly new to the football landscape in Idaho playing in just their fourth season of having a football program.  Logos has risen quickly in the 2A football ranks with this season being their best season having only one loss on their schedule.  That loss came in week one against the states number one ranked team Butte County.  The highly vaulted Knights playing a beat up Grizzly team amounted to what anyone would state as a dominate win for the Knights.

The game started with the Grizzlies receiving the opening kickoff.  Starting deep in their own territory Grace was able to pick up a first down before being forced to punt the ball.  From there the Knights controlled most of the first quarter scoring twice and earning a 14-0 lead heading into the second quarter.  

Opening the second quarter the Grizzlies finally settled into their offense and with the help of a few defensive penalties Grace came up with their first score of the game.  It came in the form of a twelve yard pass from Draper to Kimball in the back of the endzone and the lead was cut to 14-6 with just over seven minutes left in the first half.  Following a failed onside kick by the Grizzlies, Logos took advantage of the short field scoring in just two plays and pushing the lead back to two scores at 22-6.  Following a touchback Grace would only get two offensive plays before fumbling the ball giving Logos great field position again.  On the Knights first play Kimball got the ball back for Grace on an impressive diving interception.  Kimball wasn’t done yet as just a handful of plays later he caught a deep bomb from Draper scoring from seventy-eight yards out.  The lead was now cut to ten at 22-12 with just over three minutes left in the half.  Logos used the next three minutes to add to their lead following a long methodical drive and took a 30-12 lead but were not done scoring.  Three plays later Draper was hit in the back field fumbling the ball and the Knights recovered on the nine yard line.  Logos scored once again and entered halftime with a 38-12 lead.  In just three minutes the lead had soared from ten to twenty-six.

Logos opened the half by pouring it on the Grizzlies adding two quick scores and the lead jumped to 52-12.  The rout was on and the Grizzlies season was quickly coming to a close.  The Grizzlies did add one more score on a fifteen yard pass to Smith to close out the third quarter.  In the fourth quarter the Knights added a score and the Grizzlies followed that up with a solid drive down inside the redzone.  Unfortunately, they were unable to punch it in the endzone.  The clock would run out on the game and the Grace season.  The Grizzles elected to finish the game with eight of their seniors on the field.  The nine seniors have played a great part in the Grace football program and will be sorely missed.  However the Grizzlies will bring back several starters from the junior class as they will try to make their way back to the playoffs
next season.