STOCKTON – No quarterback, no blue-chip All-American difference maker, no havoc-making linebacker. And no chance, right?

For one half, the top-ranked Grant Pacers showed tremendous resolve and pride against heady odds – and one very motivated and deeply talented Lincoln bunch determined to conquer the best the Sac-Joaquin Section has to offer.

Then attrition set in, Lincoln assumed control and Grant's wheels fell off and landed in a ditch somewhere near Interstate 5.

In a meeting of The Bee's top two teams in its online section rankings, the host Trojans were healthier, more balanced and, on this day, clearly better, scoring 28 points in the third quarter to roll 56-20.

That Grant led 20-14 at the half was impressive since two-year varsity starting quarterback Terry Shine was out because of a broken thumb, and national recruit tailback – and backup passer – Shaq Thompson was a late scratch because of a thigh injury.

That meant junior Isaiah Rios got his first game action since his freshman season.

Rios had to learn on the fly and against a superb defense. He passed for three second-quarter touchdowns, two to Lychauan Jones, but he showed as much inexperience as a good number of his thrust-into-action young teammates. He forced passes, overthrew some or threw to the wrong jerseys.

A moment after Justin Davis tore off an 88-yard touchdown, his fourth score of the day for Lincoln, Christian Valeros returned a Rios interception 80 yards for a 42-20 score and the rout was on.

"If we stopped the game at halftime, we would have been heroes," said Grant coach Mike Alberghini, whose team is 2-2. "That's a very good team in Lincoln, but they're not a 56-20 better team. This is not about making excuses – we just got beat."

Lincoln (4-0) stunned then nationally ranked No. 8 Pleasant Grove 50-49 in double overtime two weeks ago. Lincoln is a team to fear in the Division I playoffs, to be sure, with balance and a breakaway back in Davis, who rushed for 269 yards.

Over the years, setbacks have often motivated Grant's program.

The Pacers won six section titles under Alberghini with teams that had two regular-season losses.

"I don't doubt that at all," said Lincoln coach Brian Gray on the chance of facing the Pacers in the playoffs.

"I don't think anyone wants to play them once they get healthy."

In what was an already a daunting afternoon, emotions in the stands came to a boil. One parent of a Grant player started arguing with a Grant assistant following the game, then jumped the railing and onto the field, eager for a confrontation. The parent was restrained by Alberghini, Grant principal Craig Murray and a host of burly Grant assistants.

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