GAME RECAP: Grant Survives Pacifica’s 2nd Half Comeback to Win State in Division 2-AA

By: Isabella Lyons

Grant, the 2-AA North champions faced Pacifica, the 2-AA South champions in the CIF Division 2-AA Final today at 4pm at Saddleback College Stadium in Mission Viejo, California. The two teams came into the game with similar records, Grant with 11-3 and Pacific with 11-4. 

Grant had just come off a tight win against Saint Francis, with only a 2-point deficit. Meanwhile, Pacific beat Narbonne 37-20, allowing both of these teams to highlight their dominance on both sides of the ball and securing an important win.

Jose Romero of Grant kicked off to Pacifica who took it down to the 28 yard line, with an 18 yard return. With the ball, the Tritons made it to the 22 yard line before reaching 1st & goal. With a total of 11 total drives, Pacifica’s Alijah Royster runs in an 8 yard handoff from Dominic Duran for the first touchdown of the game.

After a failed attempt to score, Grant’s 33 yard kick lands out of bounds giving the ball back to the Tritons. However, Pacifica found themselves in a similar situation shortly after their 43 yard kick went down at the 48 yard line for the Pacers to take over. Luke Alexander’s pass to Zo Edwards is complete at the 4 yard line for a 1st & goal for Grant. On 3rd down and 2:47 to go in the 1st quarter, Brandon Lambert is wide open and finds the endzone and tie the game at 7-7. Grant used 10 plays and a total of 80 yards.

After 5 plays and 60 yards, Grant’s Zo Edwards finds the endzone after a 26 yard pass from Luke Alexander. Pushing the Pacers ahead at 14-7. After an 18 yard return, the ball is on the 30 yard line for the Tritons, but the ball is intercepted on the next play by Gary Tia of Grant. Tia runs in the ball 35 yards and pushed the score once again to put Grant on top at 21-7. Hand off to Tyson Griffin takes Grant to 1 & goal late in the 2nd quarter. And at 2nd & goal, Brandon Lambert with a 6 yard rushing touchdown to push Grant ahead to 28-7 after 11 plays and 80 yards. The Tritons have the ball but it’s too late, the 1st half is over with the Pacers in the lead at 28-7.

The 3rd quarter began with Pacifica kicking off to Grant, who had the ball at their own 38-yard line. Luke Alexander came up with quite a few incomplete passes, one to Deangelo Knight that fell out of his arms as he hit the ground and one to Zo Edwards who ran out of bounds before making contact with the ball. Unable to find the endzone, the ball is turned over to the Tritons, where shortly after, Dominics Durans finds Savion Taylor and brings the ball to the Grant 32 yard line. 

An injured Grant player, Deon Hasley is down for about 1:30 seconds after being walked off the field. Duran’s pass is completed to Alijah Royster for a touchdown to catch the Tritons up to 14-28. The onside kick was recovered by Anthony Espinoza and took the ball to the Pacifica 49 yard line. After escaping Isaiah Srephen, Dominic Duran ran the ball for a gain of 6 before being brought down by Gary Tia. 

The ball is turned back over to Grant where after being unable to gain, the Pacers 27 yard punt is down and the 30 yard line where Pacific will take over. Dominic Duran’s pass is completed to Alijah Royster for a 36 yard Pacifica touchdown, the score is now 21-28.

Pacifica kicks the ball to Grant late in the 3rd quarter, where Grant has the ball at their own 20 yard line. Alexander hands off the ball to Tyson Griffin with a 7 yard gain on the play, but it’s not enough for a 1st down. The score was Grant 28, Pacifica, 21 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Dominic Duran completed a pass to Alijah Royster late in the 4th quarter to tie up the game. But shortly after, Koby Shabaz found the endzone for Grant with 22 seconds left in the game for a walk off touchdown, leaving the final score Grant 35, Pacifica, 28.