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Cobe Cortez came up big for Grady last week against Sands, recovering three onside kicks and helping the Wildcats to a 70-38 district victory. -
Jackson Welch -
Justin DeLucas
GRADY – The Grady Wildcats are still in the playoff hunt after a dominating 70-38 win over rival Sands at M.W. Tunnel Field in Grady on Friday night.
The two offenses started the game trading touchdowns but late in the first quarter Grady’s Isaiah Ontiveros picked off a Sand’s pass in the end zone giving Grady the ball back and eventually some breathing room when the Wildcats scored their fourth touchdown.
The Wildcats had built a 32-18 lead with just seconds remaining in the first half. Sands was again knocking on the end zone door but Grady tightened its boot straps and kept the Mustangs out of the end zone which preserved the 14-point halftime lead.
The halftime rest was what the doctor ordered for Grady while it seemed Sand’s didn’t make it out of the locker room for the third quarter.
The first 10 minutes of the second half were all Grady with the Wildcats scoring 24 points while holding the Mustangs scoreless.
Sands finally woke up in the fourth quarter crossing the goal line three times, but the rally was too little too late and Grady defended its home field and won on homecoming night.
Cristian Jimenez was a
perfect 4 of 4 passing for Grady for 188 yards and three touchdowns.
Jackson Welch caught three passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns and Justin DeLucas had one receptions for 14 yards.
Grady’s rushing attack was led by Caden Hayes with 14 carries for 176 yards and four touchdowns.
DeLucas gained 40 yards and two touchdowns on four carries and Ontiveros picked up 38 yards and one touchdown on two rushing attempts.
Grady’s defense was led by DeLucas with 13 tackles and Frankie Jimenez and Ontiveros added 12 and 11 tackles respectively.
Logan Aaron finished the game with nine tackles while Welch recorded eight, Hayes seven and C. Jimenez six. Colt Carson rounded out the books with two tackles.
F. Jimenez and Ontiveros had one interception each.
Grady had eight kickoff returns with C. Jimenez leading the way with 81 yards and one touchdown. DeLucas fielded two kicks and gained 13 yards and Cobe Cortez recovered three onside kicks and returned one for two yards.
Grady’s final two games of the district season will be Friday at Klondike and Nov. 8 at home against Borden County. Both games are set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m.