Grizzlies unbalance Foothill Cougars
The Lassen High School football teams took on the visiting Foothill Cougars Friday, Sept. 20. The freshman lost 48-3, along with JV falling 27-8. The varsity Grizzlies, however, finished the night with a 50-36 win over the Cougars.
This was the freshman team’s first loss of the season placing them at a 3-1 record for the season so far. Freshman football coach Kevin McCullough said of the team’s progress so far, “The players are developing and we have performed well against some large schools. I expect continued improvement, and I look forward to the team competing for a league title.”
JV football coach Paul Geoia spoke on the Friday game, “The score does not reflect how well we played against a tough opponent. We had a touch down run called back on a penalty as well as some other missed opportunities. We were in this game until the fourth quarter. Our JV players never gave up and played tough against a great team. We still have a lot of work to do before our league opener against Corning, but we are up for the challenge.”
Following the losses of the Frosh and JV teams the Grizzlies took the field kicking off to Foothill deferring to the second half.
The Cougars showed they came to play as they had taken the kick return for touchdown in the first minute of the game with a follow up PAT, starting the game 7-0 Cougars leading.
Once back in Grizzly control the Cougars defense held out but were unable to get a turnover leading to Tavin Fowler for a five yard rush acquiring the Grizzlies first touchdown of the night.
Following the kick return to the Cougars, Grizzly Aaron Ogburn came out of nowhere for an interception returning possession to the Grizzlies leading into the second quarter.
Fowler started the second quarter off quick rushing in for the Grizzlies second touchdown with a successful PAT to follow putting the Grizzlies ahead 14-7.
Grizzlies defense pounded the Cougars after the return with Nathaniel Biggs sacking Cougars quarterback Cooper Laloli setting them back in yards and leading to a turnover on downs.
Grizzlies onslaught in the second quarter continued as the defense managed another interception and two more touchdowns and successful extra points, widening the gap to 28-7 going into half time.
The third quarter kicked off with the Grizzlies on the return, and after a few plays, quarterback Wolf found Triston Ingwerson in the end zone for a touchdown four minutes into the third quarter, placing the Grizzlies at 35-7 over Foothill.
In the waning minutes of the third quarter the Cougars managed to flank around the Grizzlies defense for their second touchdown, then the Grizzlies were forced into a punt return to Foothill. The Cougars took the punt return for another touchdown and successful extra point placing them at 35-21 under the Grizzlies.
With just under a minute in the third quarter Eric Smith found the hole rushing 60 yards for another Grizzly touchdown and a extra point to follow, keeping the score gap wide at 42-21.
Cougars then found their footing in the fourth quarter landing two more touchdowns along with a two point conversion.
But the Grizzlies weren’t finished either, as Wolf was able to find Fowler wide open running toward the end zone for the Grizzlies final touchdown. To add insult to injury the Grizzlies answered back with a two point conversion of their own to end the game 50-36.
