ROCKDALE — The Granger High School varsity football team endured the harsh elements as the Lions grabbed a gritty 21-7 victory over Burton High School Thursday, Nov. 9, to secure a 2A-2 bidistrict championship in the pouring rain.
The Lions got off to a perfect start in the first quarter when senior Jayven Diaz returned the opening kickoff to give Granger a quick 6-0 lead just 12 seconds into the game.
The opposing Panthers could not catch a break and fumbled the ensuing kickoff to give the Lions great field position. A few plays later, following a defensive pass interference penalty on Burton, the Lions punched the ball into the end zone on a short run up the middle by Lions senior quarterback Chase Edwards. With the two-point conversion attempt successful by Diaz, Granger was up 14-0 with just over eight minutes left in the first quarter.
Both Granger and Burton had trouble on the night successfully sustaining drives on offense due to the downpour of rain at Tiger Stadium in Rockdale. However, the Lions would hold onto that 14-0 lead headed into the second quarter.
The Lions’ defense was locked in for the vast majority of the night. On a long run in the second quarter by Burton that looked like it was going to be a touchdown, Granger senior defensive lineman Michael Selucky made a hustle play down the Burton sideline to punch the ball out from behind, causing it to bounce into the end zone for a touchback as the Panthers were kept off the scoreboard.
However, with the seconds going off at the end of the second quarter, disaster struck for the Lions as a fumble on offense was scooped up by the Panthers and returned for a touchdown to cut Granger’s lead to 14-7 at halftime.
Following a scoreless third quarter after the rain finally started to die down, the harsh rainfall picked up again in the fourth quarter.
The Lions needed just one more score to put this game away for good as the defenses continued to play lights out for both teams. On a third-and-long with just over three minutes left in regulation, Edwards put the game on ice as he connected down the sideline with senior wide receiver Isaac Lizardo on a 34-yard touchdown pass to give the Lions a 21-7 lead, which would hold the rest of the way.
The Lions will now advance to the area round next week and take on either Brackettville High School or Pettus High School at a date and neutral site still to be determined.
Granger High School varsity football senior quarterback Chase Edwards hands the ball off to senior running back Jayven Diaz (3) in a heavy rainstorm during the Lions’ 21-7 victory over Burton High School in the 2A-2 bi-district playoffs in Rockdale. Photo by Larry Pelchat
