The JV Marauders lost a non-league game 28-7 to Granite Bay High School in their home opener Thursday night. 

The game started off very rough.  Jesuit kicked off and on the first play from scrimmage, Granite Bay ran for a 33-yard touchdown.  Grizzlies 7-Marauders 0.

The Marauders’ first drive started on the 25-yard line and resulted in a loss of two yards on three downs.  Granite Bay almost blocked the ensuing punt, and the Grizzlies took over at the Jesuit 30 yard line.  A quick Grizzlie pass led to another touchdown.  Two defensive plays and the Marauders were down two scores.  Granite Bay 14-Jesuit 0.

Jesuit’s second drive began on their own 10-yard line.  Ace Saca ran for five yards off a great outside block from Matt Bettencourt.  Two plays later, Chris Thorn shed tackles left and right for an 81 yard touchdown.  The Marauders showed signs of life.  Ryan Young kicked the extra point.  Granite Bay 14 – Jesuit 7.

The Big Red defense started waking up as well.  Matt Bettencourt and Cash Taylor stuffed back-to-back runs.  On third and twelve, a blitzing Noah Clay disrupted the QB’s pass, and Declan Mitchell and Roman Canaan batted the ball away from a Granite Bay receiver.  The Grizzlies punted the ball, and Jesuit had the ball down only one touchdown.

Ace Saca scooted for 13 yards, and Cash Taylor ran to the left side for another 16 yards behind a pulling Tucker Johnstone.  Ace Saca caught a lateral pass and ran for another first down, but it was unfortunately called back for a block to the back.  Jesuit’s progress was stalled by penalties and drops, and Granite Bay took over on downs.

Even though the Jesuit offense was struggling, the Marauder defense was still on fire.   Matt Bettencourt led a host of Marauders in a behind the line of scrimmage tackle of Granite Bay’s running back.  The Grizzlies punted, and the Marauders had the ball at their own 32.  Gage Johnson found a lane and gained a first down.  Ace Saca picked up another first down; the chains were moving!  Then, Chris Thorn fooled the world with a fake handoff and rumbled for 29 more yards himself.  Noah Clay dragged four Grizzlies for another 12 Yards.  The Marauders had a first and goal from the three yard line.  After a holding call and incompletion, the Grizzlies intercepted the ball and killed a very promising Marauder drive.  The Grizzlies made a field goal at the end of the first half.  GB 17-Jesuit 7.

Jesuit charged up the field in the third quarter with passes from Thorn to Bettencourt and Christian Sanchez, but the drive fizzled again with incompletions.  Granite Bay took over on downs.  The Grizzlies couldn’t move either.  On Jesuit’s next drive, Saca exploded for 30+ yards on successive runs.  Jesuit attempted a field goal, but it was no good.

Gage Johnson had a great defensive play on a Grizzly sweep, forcing Granite Bay into long yardage.  A Jesuit pass interference penalty kept the Grizzly drive alive.  The fourth quarter started with a Grizzly short pass and long run for a touchdown. The Marauders and Grizzlies traded short drives.  Granite Bay recovered a fumble on a Jesuit punt return, and the game ended:  Grizzlies 24-Jesuit 7.

Marauder Stats:

• Passing:  4-13, 26 yards
• Rushing:  31 rushes for 234 yards
• Defense:  Held GB to 81 yards on 16 carries