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Grizzlies outlast Jackets on a soggy Friday Night

Writer's picture: Arthur MosleyArthur Mosley


On a soggy mid-August night, the Creekview Grizzlies were victorous over the visiting Calhoun Yellow Jackets by a score of 17-10. It had almost been two weeks since the last trace of rain fell across North Central Georgia. And mother nature saved it all for the first Friday of the high school football season. Many games were called, canceled or postponed across the area. However, the Grizzlies and Jackets decided to play on into the early morning hours of Saturday.


After both teams went three and out on their first possession’s of the ball game, Creekview sophomore J.D. Russell recovered a Calhoun fumble setting up the Grizzlies with a first down at the Calhoun 39. Creekview drove all the way into the redzone but the Calhoun defense held serve and Creekview settled for a Colt Davis 22-yard field goal with 4:14 to play in the 1st quarter


On the ensuing drive, it was Kevin Meade who showed his prowess on defense, as the senior defensive end recording back to back sacks on quarterback Cross Land, forcing a Jackets punt. The quarter ended at 3-0, but on the next drive, junior Mason Munn found paydirt as he punched the ball in from 3 yards out, bringing the score to 10-0 Creekview with 8:56 in the first half.


Then it was mother natures turn to put on a show of wind that whipped sand and anything not tied down across the Grizzly Den. That was followed by a driven rain and a lightning siren that effectively halted the game for 3 hours.


The teams finally took the field at 10:50 to warm up in preparation to resume the game. Calhoun began their drive at their own 48 yard line, with a 2nd and 7. They marched the ball down the field and capped off their first scoring drive of the night with a Hunter White 24-yard touchdown run with 6:56 left to play in the first half.


The Grizzlies answered right back, using a drive that lasted only 2:56 as quarterback Austin Guest dashed around the right side of the formation on a play action pass to make the score 17-7 after the Colt Davis extra point. The Jackets then turned the ball over on downs, effectively ending the first half as more rain began to fall.


Creekview opened the second half with possession of the ball and chewed up 6:14 of clock, but were forced to punt, as the Calhoun defense tightened up. On the next Calhoun drive, it was J.D. Russell recovering his second fumble of the game, deep in Calhoun territory. However a holding penalty on Creekview’s ensuing drive forced a 3rd and long and in an obvious passing situation, Calhoun’s Makadan Griffin was sitting on the route and intercepted the Austin Guest pass, returning it to the Creekview 28 yard line.


The Jackets drove deep into Grizzly territory as the game entered the 4th quarter, but they were forced to settle for a Carlos Lopez 24 yard field goal with 11:22 left in the game, bringing the score to 17-10 Creekview.


Creekview could not get any offense clicking on the next possession and Calhoun forced a punt. After taking over on their own 37 yard line, Calhoun moved the ball into Creekview territory. A costly holding penalty forced the Jackets into a 3rd and long. The Jackets used a double pass with quarterback Trace Hawkins throwing back to Emaree Winston, who then threw back to Hawkins for about a 7 yard gain. Then on 4th and 18, Hawkins found Winston streaking down the sideline. Winston made an acrobatic catch and came down inbounds, but was shoved out of bounds just shy of the line to gain.


The Grizzlies took over with 5:15 left in the game and were able to run out the clock courtesy of some impressive runs in between the tackles by Mason Munn and quarterback Austin Guest. Bringing the final to 17-10.


For the Grizzlies, (1-0, 0-0), it was their first win over Calhoun in three tries. Next week, they will be back at home on Thursday night as they host the North Forsyth Raiders. Meanwhile, Calhoun (0-1, 0-0) will look to regroup as they are off next Friday and will host Westminster (Atlanta) on the 30th.

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