The Grants High School Pirates football team ended their state playoff run with a bang. The bang however was not like anyone expected – over 100-yards in penalties and two ejections for the Pirates, including GHS Head Coach Steve Brown.
The St. Pius' offense locked in early and scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. The Pirates answered back, scoring seven points of their own in that first quarter with another impressive kickoff return by senior Boudy Melonas who ran 80-yards to make the score 14-7 St. Pius up at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter looked like it would be more back and forth between these tough district rivals who were meeting for the second time this season.
In that crucial second quarter the ejections, penalties and a well-oiled St. Pius' offense was too much for the Pirates to overcome—the Sartans tallied up 29 points to the Pirates seven points in that second quarter. The last touchdown of the season for the Pirates came off a brother-to-brother pass from junior quarterback Trisitn Fernandez to his younger brother, an eighth grader, Julian Fernandez for the final Pirate touchdown.
The halftime score was 43-7, St. Pius.
On the return from halftime, assistant coach Ben Willcox took the Pirate reins for the rest of the second half. The Pirates were unable to make a comeback offensively, though, the Pirate defense, which was strong all year, held St. Pius to only a field goal in the second half, making the final score 46-14.
Coach Brown posted on the Pirates social media that, “What a season, obviously not the ending that we all wanted–but make no mistake GHS football is back on the map,” posted Brown.
“I feel like I left everything out there before the second half – the mood died — I wish the outcome had been different – it went by so fast [the season] I am gonna miss it,” said Senior Boudy Melonas of his last game. “I am glad I was able to play with my brother before it was too late.” The Pirates end their season with a 6-6, 4-3 record.