Grant bounces back with buttoned-up performance against top team from Fresno
The Grant Pacers were all business Friday night.
Which they needed to be following their season-opening blowout loss to Folsom that was nationally televised on ESPN — and followed up by a statement from the Twin Rivers Unified School District about the team’s behavior.
The Pacers rebounded from the 38-point defeat littered with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties with an encouraging, buttoned-up performance against the Central East Bengals. The Pacers out classed the top-ranked team from Fresno — and MaxPreps’ No. 16 ranked team in California, 19 spots higher than Grant — with a 42-26 victory in Del Paso Heights.
“The standard that we built — we know our standard’s not gone,” Grant coach Carl Reed said afterwards. “Our standard’s there, and that’s what we had.”
Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that Reed would get his team to bounce back. He’s overseen far more drastic turnarounds before, like when the Pacers went 0-9 in 2021 and won a Division 3-AA state title the following season and a Division 2-AA state crown in 2024. This year, Grant has similar aspirations while also moving up to the area’s top division, where they hope to get a rematch against No. 1 Folsom in the postseason.
The Pacers certainly looked the part of a contender on Friday with their star skill players impacting throughout. Rahzario Edwards, a national recruit with the size of a tight end and the movement skills of a receiver, had six catches for 203 yards and a touchdown, all coming in the first three quarters. “Zo” Edwards is a junior who has garnered attention from Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Arizona and Arizona State.
Quarterback Shiren Crump completed 18 of 26 passes for 361 yards and a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Thorne Watson had 100 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Fellow running back Tyson Griffin Jr. added 81 yards and a score. Speedster Koby Shabazz, a Sacramento State commit, had six catches for 125 yards and a trip to the end zone.
“A bounce-back week for us,” Reed said. “Real happy, real proud of the way the guys played. We’re back on that track, 1-0 this week.”
Grant got out to a 28-0 lead with the help of interceptions from Julian Dominguez and Afulu Siona. Central East battled back thanks to a 90-yard touchdown run from Brandon Smith and a 51-yard receiving score from Bayon Harris. At 35-20, they were in Grant territory with a chance to make it a one-score game late in the third quarter but fumbled the ball to Grant, who added another touchdown to put the game out of reach.
The Bengals scored a touchdown as time expired, after the game was well in hand.
Grant next week will have its first road game of the season, in Santa Rosa against Cardinal Newman. Then they have two more big match-ups at home against Clovis East on Sept. 12 and powerhouse De La Salle on Sept. 19.
