Lions get gritty Homecoming victory vs. Iola
GRANGER — The Granger High School varsity football team won a defensive slugfest on Friday night as the Lions were able to grind out a 23-14 win on Homecoming against Iola High School to start off district play.
“There is no place like Granger, Texas. The crowd tonight was electric,” head coach Stephen Brosch said. “The Lion faithful were packed in and brought energy all night. It is no surprise as they always do. We are so grateful for the endless support and motivation they bring week in and week out. Granger is a special place and our fan base shows that every single time we take the field on Friday night.”
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Lions got on the scoreboard first offensively when senior quarterback Chase Edwards connected with senior running back Jayven Diaz on an eight-yard touchdown pass to give Granger a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.
After Iola answered right back following a deep pass and a 15-yard touchdown run to tie it 7-7 with 6:58 left in the second quarter, Granger got some great play from its special teams returning the ball to give them good field position on drives during the first half. Edwards was able to keep it himself on a 25-yard quarterback scramble to give Granger a 14-7 lead over Iola that would hold heading into halftime.
The visiting Bulldogs came out and knotted the score up at 14-14 in the third quarter on a one-yard touchdown run but again the Lions had a response as Edwards scored on a oneyard touchdown run to put Granger up 20-14.
Granger needed just one more score to make this a two-possession game and they got just that on the leg of junior kicker Jose Valverde. His 25-yard field goal gave the Lions a 23-14 lead over the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter, a score that would hold the rest of the way as the Granger defense again had a phenomenal game. Although the Lions’ offense didn’t have its best game on the night, the defense really stepped up and held Iola to just 147 yards of total offense.
Granger High School varsity football senior quarterback Chase Edwards (5) prepares to hand the ball off to fellow senior running back Jayven Diaz (3) on Oct. 6 during the Lions’ 23-14 win at home vs. Iola High School. Photo by Larry Pelchat
Senior safety Isaac Lizardo, who was also crowned at halftime as the Homecoming king, recorded an interception on defense.
“Tonight was not our best showing but we found a way,” Brosch said. “Early on we were a few steps off from clicking on the offensive side of the ball and it cost us. I was proud of the guys for not losing their composure and sticking with the fight. The resiliency was great to watch.”
Edwards finished the night with 176 yards passing and one touchdown with two scores on the ground, while Diaz hauled in five receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown catch.
The Lions (5-1 overall record and 1-0 mark in 2A-2 District 13 play) will look to keep it rolling Friday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. as they travel to take on Bremond High School.
