The Grants High School Pirates Football Team loaded up the bus with players and equipment and set out for northern New Mexico as they played the Espanola Valley Sundevils (4-0,1-0) in the Pirates first district game of the season this past Friday.
In the close game, Pirates were unable to tie or beat the fourth ranked Sundevils and lost a tight game by a score of 14-7 as Espanola punched a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter for the “W”.
“We knew that Espanola was going to be tough—they are undefeated for a reason,” said GHS head coach Steve Brown.
“They ran the old school wishbone offense and ran it very well,” said Brown. “I felt defensively our game plan was sound and we were very effective at stopping them for the most part.”
While Brown was mostly pleased with his team’s performance on the road he did acknowledge that a “few mistakes” were made. “Jumping offsides at crucial situations and getting called for unsportsmanlike penalties should have been avoided,” said Brown The Pirates and Sundevils were scoreless in the first quarter and both teams scored one touchdown each to make the half score tied at seven each. Scoring in the second quarter for the Pirates was senior Andres Lazos, who had a total of 39 rushing yards and that sole touchdown.
“We did adjustments defensively and that improved our ability to slow them down—and hold them to 14 points,” said Brown of his second half adjustments.
“Offensively we were finally able to move the ball with some success— we just could not punch it in when we needed to,” said Brown.
The Sundevils with the win advance to 4-0, 10. The Pirates drop to 1-3 and 0-1.
They hit the road this Friday again and play Kirtland Central (1-3).
“We are looking for yet another tough contest,” said Brown of the upcoming game against KC. “They are big up front and both sides of the ball,” added Brown. When asked how is preparing for KC Brown said, “Practice this week has been very positive and the kids are excited for another opportunity to right the ship”.
The Lady Pirate Volleyball Team split their last two games. They lost to Shiprock High School 3-1 on September 14th and then defeated Wingate High School 3-0 on the same day.
Currently, the Lady Pirates are 4-7 and will play Del Norte High School next/