School district addresses Grant penalty antics in ESPN game. Folsom QB responds
The Grant Pacers football program has for decades championed its cause as a city school, proudly reminding that, as coaches and players like to say, it is the root of Sacramento.
On Saturday night in Del Paso Heights in front of a nationally televised game on ESPN, some Grant players lost their poise against the Folsom Bulldogs in a season opener, and it has since been addressed on campus and within the Twin Rivers Unified School District, school officials said.
Grant was assessed two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties before the kickoff for pregame antics, and then the team drew four more such fouls in the first half, including taunting and late hits.
Grant coaches spoke passionately to their team at the half, demanding better behavior, and the second half went without incident. Folsom won the much-anticipated opener 51-13. Scores of players and coaches embraced after the game in the traditional post-game walk through line.
On Monday afternoon, Twin Rivers athletic director Micah Simmons said in a statement about the incidents, “We are addressing them with our coaches and student-athletes, reinforcing our commitment to respect, integrity, and character. We will always strive to do better because sports are about more than the game.”
The statement continued, “While emotions ran high surrounding the game, the district is proud of the student-athletes, and grateful for the way both communities came together to shine a national spotlight on their schools and their students.”
Grant coach Carl Reed spent some 20 minutes after Saturday’s game, along with an army of coaches, reminding the Pacers players, “this isn’t who we are” in terms of poor conduct and game results.
“A very teachable moment,” Reed added, in a text to The Sacramento Bee. “A time to reiterate the standard we have as a program. We have built our program with high values and we will learn and be the program we know we are.”
He said that Grant will show better, in behavior and in performance, from here on out.
Folsom quarterback Ryder Lyons was the target of some of the antics, including having his helmet yanked off during a two-point conversion attempt.
A transfer from El Cerrito High in Contra Costa County, Grant defensive back Savion Bandy took to social media on Monday to take ownership of his role pregame and in-game, posting, “My passion for this game is a little different. Yes, I regret my actions, but if you know me, then you know that’s me every single day. I wasn’t gonna turn it down for one of the biggest games of my life. There is no hate towards Folsom because if you know me, then you know (Folsom receiver) Jameson Powell is one of my closest friends and Ryder Lyons and I have been good for a long time, too. I love this game a lot. I love you all.”
Lyons responded with, “Love u brother, all just a game” and punctuated it comment with a red heart emoji.
Folsom coaches also addressed their team following the victory about their own sportsmanship penalties, though none of them were for late hits. Folsom was hit with a penalty for a touchdown celebration.
Reed is an alum of the school and a longtime teacher and coach on campus. The majority of the Grant coaches are alums of the school, including co-coach Syd Thompson. Reed and Thompson were The Sacramento Bee’s Coaches of the Year in 2023. The Bee’s Team of the Decade in the 1990s and in the 2000s under famed coach Mike Alberghini, Grant is a three-time defending CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and Northern California champion with CIF State crowns in 2022 and 2024.
Grant on Friday night hosts the top-ranked team in the Central Section in Central East of Fresno before a Sept. 5 game at longtime North Bay power Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, a Sept. 12 home game against Clovis East of Fresno and a Sept. 19 contest at home against national powerhouse De La Salle of Concord in Contra Costa County.
This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM.