The GW Graham junior Grizzlies gutted out a 38-20 win over the visiting W.J. Mouat Hawks Friday night, increasing the odds they’ll be bumped up to the AAA bracket when playoffs start.
GWG improved to 5-1, which leaves them tied for second in the eastern division standings.
Only Abbotsford (6-0) has a better record than the Grizzlies, and the two meet in Thursday’s regular season finale. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. at Abbotsford.
Friday night’s Hawks/Grizzlies game was a dog-fight from the opening kickoff.
GWG opened the scoring on their second offensive drive, with Emerson Smith plowing in from the one yard line.
Late in the second quarter, quarterback Jordan Breuker hooked up with Tyler Sprott on an 18 yard scoring strike, giving GWG a 15-6 halftime lead.
The Grizzlies went up 22-6 on their first second-half series, with Baker Douglas streaking down the left sideline to haul in a Breuker pass in tight double-coverage.
Breuker added a major of his own in the third quarter, taking the ball straight up the middle on a quarterback keeper, rumbling 45 yards for the score.
Breuker had the final TD as well, a 10 yard scamper that turned out to be his final play.
He came to the sideline afterwards and said, quite matter-of-factly, ‘I think I have a broken pinky.’
Turns out it was dislocated.
He was taken to hospital to have it popped back in, and his team took care of business in the final quarter.
Running backs Tristan Davis and Billy Hansen were key for the GWG offence, both chewing up big yardage on the ground.
Emerson Smith was a defensive standout, picking off two W.J. Mouat passes.