Nov. 19, 2011 — A repeat Northern Section CIF Division II championship title was stripped from the Lassen High varsity football team Friday, Nov. 18, as the Grizzlies, the number four seed, took on the Orland Trojans, the number one seed.
Despite earning the early lead in the game, the Grizzlies fell 21-7, to be taken out of the playoffs.

The Grizzlies dominated the Trojans in the first quarter. Lassen’s defense gave up only one first down before David Vicondoa and Clinton Bradford sacked Orland’s quarterback to force the punt.
Once Lassen received the ball, the Grizzlies managed to keep it throughout the quarter.

Back-to-back first downs from Austin Marcum moved the ball down the field and with a catch from Jordan Stokes, Lassen had the ball at the 25-yard line in Trojan territory.
With the clock winding down, Matt Damm tried his best to stay on his feet after a powerful run, but Orland’s defense stopped him at the 2-yard line.

The start of the second quarter found Cameron Medico easily putting one into the endzone for Lassen as he earned his 29th touchdown of the season.

Then Lassen’s trouble began.
The Trojans were quick to gain two first downs to answer to Lassen’s touchdown.

Orland broke through the Lassen’s defense, but Nick Park stopped a possible touchdown run at the 25-yard line.
Despite Park’s defensive efforts, the Trojans found their way into the endzone to tie up the game with 8:30 left in the first half.

Morale was down on the Lassen side and the penalties that ruined the Grizzlies chance at a repeat title started.
Medico broke through for a Lassen first down following the Trojans touchdown, but the run was called back and the Grizzlies were forced back to a second-and-15 yard play.

Stokes earned an amazing catch to apparently save the Grizzlies, but Lassen was forced to punt on a fourth-and-one yard play after penalties.
Orland blocked the punt and despite earning possession again, Lassen couldn’t make anything work and the first half ended with the score tied, 7-7.

The second half began and there seemed to be hope for Lassen as the team made three first downs in three plays. Medico earned 2,000 rushing yards for the season after earning back-to-back first downs for the Grizzlies in two of the three plays.
With plenty of time to play, Lassen began making small mistakes that led to penalties and yards lost that were crucial to the Trojans victory.

Orland took advantage of the mistakes, and managed to put another one into the endzone after a fumble recovery allowed for an easy score with 7.3 seconds left in the third quarter to take a 14-7 lead over Lassen.

The Grizzlies continued to struggle in the fourth quarter, and the Trojans refused to give in to the valiant effort of the Lassen defense and secured the win with another touchdown about three minutes into the fourth quarter to advance to next week’s championship game against the Sutter Huskies.