Grand scored both of its touchdowns in the first half. The first score was on a 27-yard by running back Koi Cook in the first period. The second touchdown was a 4-yard run by Cameron Taylor as time expired in the second quarter. That gave the Red Devils a 14-0 halftime lead.
Although the Red Devils were held scoreless in the second half and gave up two touchdowns to the Rams in the third period, Grand still managed to hold on for the victory.
South Sevier scored its first touchdown on a 52-yard run by Alani Pututau, who broke at least two tackles before getting ahead of the defense and racing to the end zone. Trevor Jones added the extra-point kick to make it 14-7 with 9:16 remaining in the third period.
About five minutes later, during the Rams’ next possession, Grand was whistled for an offside penalty that put the Rams in advantageous field position. Jones then threw a 15-yard TD pass to Avery Healy to bring the Rams within one point, 14-13.
On the ensuing conversion kick attempt Grand was penalized again for being offsides, which caused the ball to be moved one yard toward the goal line, on the 1-yard line instead of the 2-yard line. The Rams decided to go for a two-point conversion instead of the extra point, but their pass attempt was broken up by Grand, leaving the Red Devils ahead by a single point, which ended up being the difference in the game.
South Sevier almost added yet another touchdown toward the end of the third period, but the Ram receiver who appeared to score was flagged for offensive passing interference, nullifying the touchdown.
Neither team scored in the fourth period, as both struggled to move the ball. The Rams did get the ball back for one final series of plays during the final minute of the game, but the Red Devils shut them down on four straight plays and South Sevier was unable to get within field goal range.
The game featured a total of 21 penalties, 13 of them against the Red Devils, according to head coach Dennis Wells.
Red Devil quarterback Jacob Francis threw for 149 yards passing, completing seven of 13 attempts despite suffering a shoulder injury during the second period that is expected to keep him out for at least one game and perhaps longer, he said. Francis’ left (non-throwing) arm became dislocated during a tackle.
Five different receivers caught at least one pass for the Red Devils.
Grand also had a balanced running attack, with Francis leading the way with 73 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Taylor added 54 yards on 10 attempts and Cook had 57 yards on nine attempts for the Red Devils.
Cook also led the team in tackles with 11, including seven solo tackles.
The Red Devils also sacked South Sevier quarterback Jones four times during the game, and Grand’s Preston Walston also snagged an interception of a pass that was tipped by a fellow lineman.
“We played well in the first half, and not so well in the second,” Francis said. “We expected to score at least a couple more touchdowns, but we still managed to come away with the win.”
In their next game, the Red Devils (now 5-2 overall, 3-1 in region play) will travel to Enterprise to face the Wolves who are 3-4 overall and 1-4 in region play, having lost their last four games, including a 14-7 loss to Richfield at Enterprise last Friday.
Grand’s last regular-season game will be a home contest against Beaver on Friday, Oct. 12. The Red Devil seniors will be honored right before that 7 p.m. game.