Grizzlies Eye Statement Win on Homecoming Night as Raiders Come Calling

Scouting the Grizzlies

The Creekview Grizzlies picked up their first win of the season last week, and more importantly, opened region play with a win. After weeks of trying to establish the ground game, the Grizzlies finally broke through, rushing for 352 yards and six touchdowns in a dominant performance against Lassiter. Sophomore Carson Lott and senior quarterback Alex Penrod carried the load, piling up 171 and 108 yards respectively while accounting for five of the rushing scores. Penrod also connected with Hayden Hansen for the team’s first passing touchdown of the season.

Through four games, Creekview is averaging 90.8 passing yards and 159 rushing yards per game, with the offense now producing 14.5 points per contest. Lott leads the Grizzlies’ rushing attack with 252 yards and three touchdowns, while Travis Vines has added 157 yards and a score. In the passing game, Jackson Shirley has emerged as a reliable option, hauling in 10 catches for 134 yards. Defensively, J.D. Russell continues to set the tone with 23 total tackles and two interceptions, while Brayden Kimber, Hayden Hansen, and Caden Simpson have each recorded a sack. Creekview’s defense is giving up 25.7 points per game.

Scouting the Raiders

Riverwood enters with a similar overall record but is still searching for its first region win. The Raiders were blanked last week by Sequoyah, managing just 79 yards of total offense in the loss. Quarterback A.J. Rahal has shown flashes in the passing game, completing better than 50% of his throws when given time in the pocket. His top target, Zach Stair, is a dynamic playmaker capable of turning short completions into explosive gains. On the ground, Noah Myers leads the way with 194 yards through the first two games of the season, while the defense leans on Lawrence Levine ( 48 tackles, 1 sack) and David Ellis ( 26 tackles, 1.5 sacks) to provide leadership up front.

Keys to Victory

Creekview Grizzlies

• Establish the run game early with Lott, Vines, and Penrod to control the clock.

• Continue defensive pressure up front to disrupt Rahal’s rhythm.

• Limit explosive plays from Zach Stair to keep Riverwood’s offense contained.

• Avoid turnovers and capitalize on short fields to keep momentum on their side.

Riverwood Raiders

• Protect Rahal and give him time to push the ball downfield.

• Use Myers to balance the offense and keep Creekview honest defensively.

• Force Creekview into passing downs where their offense is less comfortable.

• Look for big plays on special teams or turnovers to swing momentum on the road.

Pundit's Pick

The key matchup will be Creekview’s secondary against the Rahal-to-Stair connection. If the Grizzlies can generate pressure on the left-handed quarterback, Riverwood’s passing attack could struggle to find consistency. On the flip side, expect Creekview to once again lean on its physical ground game to control the tempo. If they impose their will in the trenches, it should be enough to carry them through their homecoming night.

Prediction: Grizzlies by 24.