On a warm afternoon at Jesuit, the Granite Bay Grizzlies came to town to take on the Marauders.  Granite Bay received the kickoff to start the game and started their first drive at their own 24 yard line.  The injury depleted Jesuit defense was up to the task, forcing a three and out to start the game.  After the GB punt, Jesuit started their first drive at the Jesuit 22.  Cade Cunningham took the first two rushing plays and converted them for first downs (14 and 11 yard gains).  Unfortunately the drive stalled at midfield after two incompletions.  GB started their next drive after the Jesuit punt at their 33.  Connor McIntee and Soren Peterson contributed solid tackles on consecutive plays to force another three and out.  GB punted back to Jesuit and the Marauders couldn’t get anything going either and punted the ball back to GB after a three and out of their own.  The Jesuit D continued to play tough behind the efforts of Patrick McIntee and Laiatu Latu and forced their third three and out in a row to set-up good field position for the offense at the Granite Bay 46.  Jesuit went to work on the ground and pushed the ball down the field behind tough running by Cunningham, Hank Harvego, and Amanaki Hopoi to set-up first and goal at the 5 yard line as time expired in the first quarter of this defensive battle.  First quarter score – Jesuit 0, Granite Bay 0.

To open the second quarter Harvego handed off to Cunningham to make the score Jesuit 6 (after the missed PAT), Granite Bay 0, with 11:52 left in the second quarter.  The Jesuit D picked up where it left off with yet another three and out after a tackle by Zach Bagley and a pass break-up by Soren Peterson.  Jesuit pushed forward with another nice run by Hopoi for 12 yards and a first down.  Unfortunately Jesuit turned the ball over on an interception and gave GB great field position at the Jesuit 42 yard line.  Granite Bay finally got going offensively with a 36 yard pass play that set-up first and goal.  On the next play GB scored on a six yard run.  Granite Bay 7, Jesuit 6 with 8:27 left in the half.  Jesuit started their next drive from their own 10 after a penalty on the kick-off return.  Harvego hooked up with Connor McIntee for a 27 yard completion to get the drive going.  Jesuit stalled after that play and were forced to punt back to GB.  GB picked up where they left off on offense.  Behind a 24 yard pass, 10 yard run, 10 yard pass and a short touchdown run, Granite Bay increased their lead to 14-6 going into half time.

Jesuit took the ball to start the second half and put together an excellent drive to make the game close.  Harvego completed a 33 yard pass to Latu to get the drive stared.  Harvego converted tough runs of 15 and four yards.  Cunningham continued to run tough for positive yardage and Harvego took it in from two yards out.  After the failed two point conversion attempt the score was Jesuit 12, Granite Bay 14 with 6:13 left in the third quarter.  On GB’s next possession Jesuit was able to turn GB over with an interception by Anthony Chideme-Alfaro.  Jesuit wasn’t able to do anything with the great field position and had to punt it back to GB after a three and out.  On their next possession GB was able to convert on a huge play with a 77 yard catch and run for a touchdown.  Granite Bay 21, Jesuit 12 with 1:55 left in the third quarter.  On Jesuit’s next possession they were able to move the ball for a first down, but then turned it over with an interception by Harvego to give it back to GB as time expired in the third quarter. 

GB utilized the good field position after the turnover and drove to the Jesuit 11 and kicked a field goal to make the score GB 24, Jesuit 12 with 8:19 left in the game.  Jesuit made a quarterback change on their next drive to Daniel Susac.  Unfortunately on the second play of the next drive GB forced another turnover via an interception.  GB couldn’t get much going on their next drive and punted back to Jesuit.  After a 12 yard completion from Susac to Cunningham, a fumble on the snap resulted in a recovery by GB at the Jesuit 25 yard line.  GB moved the ball into the redzone and kicked another field goal to make the score GB 27, Jesuit 12 with 2:11 left in the game.  Jesuit moved the ball for two more first downs but a miracle comeback was not in the cards.

Final Score, Jesuit 12 – Granite Bay 27