With a blowout score of 61-0, the Griffins earned their first win of the season against Lincoln Standing Bear on Sept. 19, making history by being the first shutout in varsity Griffin football history.
The offense was key to their success. Scoring on the first possession of the game gave them confidence in the attack. Scoring again in the following drive via a rushing touchdown by running back, junior Connor Sams, the Griffins pushed the score to 13-0. With all the momentum in the hands of the Griffins, the offense got settled in and executed their game plan.
“This week we focused on execution,” head coach Justin Haberman said. “The kids got it down to what it needed to be, and we fully expect that moving forward.”
Passing the ball can be hard for any team, but with the confidence growing as the lead strengthened, the Griffins took a shot at passing. The offense drove down the field quickly, and with a toe-tap catch by wide receiver, junior Seth Kraegel, they collected a third touchdown, pushing the Griffins’ total to 20 points before the half.
Chase and I looked at each other before the play and we both knew I was going to be open in the corner of the end zone,” Kraegel said. “Once he [Chase] threw the ball I knew right away I was going to have to find a way to keep my feet in bounds. I caught it, looked down, got one foot in, and saw the ref signal for a touchdown!”
In the third quarter, passing plays increased due to halfback, senior Mason Gunn being sidelined after sustaining an injury in the Elkhorn game, and to poor schemes of the Grizzly defense. Quarterback, sophomore Chase Grow connected to Kraegel once again in the third and then to receiver seniors Carter Lightwine and Grayson Fischer, bringing his nightly total to four passing touchdowns and a school record of 264 passing yards.
“He [Grow] has grown in confidence,” wide receiver senior Joseph Costanzo said. “He has learned the playbook and has developed along the way.”
The defense also did their part by holding the Grizzlies’ offense to zero first downs until the final two minutes of the first half. Linebacker senior Luke Johnson got past the o-line and to the backfield with senior Frank Thomas who collectively sacked Standing Bear quarterback, junior Hayden Holdren three times.
The “defense was dialed into the game plan,” Haberman said. “They were making the checks they needed to make on the field, and credit to Coach Kelsay and I for the game plan and the great coverages Coach Shrader had.”
In the second half, the cornerbacks Grayson Fischer and sophomore Quinn Bera added two more interceptions to the team’s season total of six, and then gave the ball right back to the already strong offense.
“They [Standing Bear] had struggled with passing that day, and when you have a good secondary, it can cause more problems,” cornerback senior Carter Lightwine said.
With the game in control and a commanding lead of over 50 points on the board, the coaching staff gave non-starters a chance to play under the Thursday night lights during the fourth quarter.
“It was nice being able to get out on the field and contribute to the win,” defensive end, senior Ayden Stoakes said. “It’s something we haven’t been able to do yet this season.
Tomorrow night, the boys will take on the 2-2 Plattsmouth Blue Devils at home, and while the Blue Devils have more wins under their belt, the Griffins have had a taste of victory and are hungry for more.
“Records don’t mean anything,” Haberman said. “I believe our boys can go out there and give them their all and more.”
