Grizzlies fall to Midway at home Friday

GANS–Gans trailed visiting Midway 8-0 at the end of the opening period Friday night but the Chargers outscored the Grizzlies 30-8 in the second quarter on their way to the 54-8 non-district win.

On Friday Gans (0-4) travels to Porum for a non-district game and Midway (3-1) has an open date.

Early in the first stanza Gans‚ Nakota White recovered a fumble at the Gans 45 but on the next play Midway‚s Gervon Washington intercepted a pass at the Grizzlies‚ 47. Washington, Midway‚s quarterback, ran for a 47-yard touchdown on first down to put the Chargers on the board at the 9:25 mark and the sophomore signal caller ran for the conversion to put Midway on top 8-0.

The Chargers recovered a fumble moments later but the Grizzlies‚ defense stiffened and stopped Midway at the Gans‚ 36.

The Grizzlies registered their initial first down of the game with just over four minutes remaining in the first on Caleb Martin‚s 11-yard run on a reverse and an offside penalty against the Chargers and a 7-yard completion from White to Martin gave Gans a first down at the Midway 40. Marc Tipton caught a 40-yard touchdown pass two plays later but a holding penalty nullified the score. A fumble on the next snap following a 15-yard reception by Dylan Darden ended the scoring threat.

Almost midway through the second quarter a 2-yard touchdown run by the Chargers‚ Tristen Wolfe and Washington‚s conversion run put Midway in front 16-0.

After intercepting a Gans‚ throw Washington tossed a 48-yard touchdown pass to tight end Bryton McPherson and the Chargers led 24-0 following Washington‚s conversion run with 5:01 remaining before the half.

Martin returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the Midway 40 but three plays later a Grizzlies‚ fumble ended the drive at the 36.

Wolfe raced 64 yards into the east zone on the next play but the score remained 30-0 after Gans‚ defense kept Eli Kelley out of the end zone on the two-point conversion try.

The Grizzlies started their next offensive series at the Midway 10 after Clay Martinez returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards. Martinez netted six yards on his first-down carry before White crossed the goal line following a 4-yard run to put the Grizzlies on the board. Martin‚s conversion run with 1:46 left made the score 30-8.

With time running out before the intermission the Chargers moved to the Gans 4 before Hunter Walters of the Grizzlies recovered a fumble at the 10, but on the last play of the half Wolfe returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown. Midway led 38-8 at the intermission following Washington‚s two-point run.

Midway recovered Gans‚ onside kick at the start of the third period and on first down running back Samuel Herrera completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Wolfe. Washington‚s conversion run with 11:39 to go gave the visitors a 46-8 advantage.

Gans‚ offense started its first offensive series of the second half at its 38 following Martin‚s 20-yard kickoff return. Martin ran seven yards to the 45 on first down but three plays later the Grizzlies turned the ball over on downs at the 35.

McPherson‚s 27-yard run on a seconddown play took the Chargers to the Gans 9, but after the Grizzlies tackled McPherson for a 2-yard loss Washington rushed for a 9-yard touchdown with 6:45 left in the third. Washington‚s conversion run ended the game (45-point rule).

“I would say we played sloppy and they benefitted off turnovers and we didn‚t,” Gans head coach Brian Morton said. “I would say honestly that was the key to where we failed was turnovers. The biggest part of the time we were moving the ball when we had the turnovers.

“Defensively we held them to one touchdown in the first quarter but we just couldn‚t put together enough plays in a row to keep our defense off the field.”

White was Gans‚ leading rusher in the contest with 14 yards on three carries and also carrying the ball for the Grizzlies were Martin (5 carries for 10 yards), Martinez (2 for 7) and Darden (2 for minus 4).

White completed 6-of-11 passes for 51 yards and Gans‚ receivers were Darden (3 receptions for 40 yards), Martin (2 for 10) and Martinez (1 for 1).

Running the ball for the Chargers were Wolfe (8 carries for 98 yards), Washington (11 for 72), McPherson (4 for 47) and Herrera (8 for 43).

Washington completed 2-of-3 passes for 51 yards and Herrera was 1-of-1 for 50 yards. Wolfe (50 yards), McPherson (48) and Herrera (3) each caught one throw in the game.

Morton is optimistic about the Grizzlies‚ future.

“We are moving in the right direction,” Morton said. “I‚m seeing improvements from the boys. District play hasn‚t started yet and we want to be playing our best ball when district gets here and I still think that‚s going to happen.

“We‚re making progress. As a coach I want to see that progress happen quicker but we‚re here for the long haul.

“I feel really good about this week.”