The Enterprise Wolves won the battle at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball on their way to defeating the Grand County Red Devils 42-14 in Enterprise on Friday, Sept. 26.
The Red Devils, who were missing eight starters because of injuries, hunting trips and other factors, and who had more than half of the players who dressed for varsity play in a C-Team game just prior to the varsity game, couldn’t muster much opposition to the Wolves, who consistently opened big holes in the running game, allowing senior running back Kelton Hunt to rush for 184 yards and three touchdowns.
The Red Devils also struggled in pass defense, allowing Enterprise junior quarterback Brandell Shumway to complete 5-of-7 passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns.
Red Devil football coach Dennis Wells said Grand knew it was in for a tough game heading in because injuries forced the team to start freshmen. Among the injuries are a broken leg for junior lineman Brandon Secrest and a pulled hamstring for senior wide receiver and defensive back Koby Sobremesana. Secrest’s season is likely over after suffering the injury late in the Beaver game on Friday, Sept. 19, while Sobremesana’s likely out “at least a couple weeks,” Wells said.
“It was just tough; we were outmanned,” Wells said. “It’s just been one of those years with trying to put bodies on the field.”
The Red Devils were down 21-0 in the middle of the second quarter before they put their first sustained drive together offensively, but the drive sputtered in Wolves’ territory and Grand punted the ball away right before the half. Enterprise tried moving the ball down the field quickly to extend its lead before halftime, but were thwarted when junior defensive back Brendan Bennett intercepted a Shumway pass. The Red Devils couldn’t capitalize before the break and went in to halftime down 21-0.
The Red Devils’ hopes of a second-half comeback were quickly dashed after junior Joseph Shumway fumbled the opening kickoff, leading to a Hunt touchdown run, and the Red Devils turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, leading to another Hunt touchdown run, putting the Wolves up 35-0 and activating the mercy rule with about nine minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Wolves scored again later in the third quarter to go up 42-0, before the Red Devils got two scores late in the game, one on a 4-yard run by senior Tanner White, followed by a successful two-point conversion, and another on a 2-yard run by freshman Nick Downard, followed by a failed two-point conversion, for a final score of 42-14.
The loss drops the Red Devils to 1-5 for the season, 1-3 in Region 15 play with three games remaining. Enterprise improved to 5-1, 3-0 in region play, with the victory.
The Red Devils are scheduled to play host to Summit Academy, a non-region matchup, in Grand’s homecoming game, which is set to take place on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.
Wells said the Red Devils figure to be a little bit healthier for the homecoming game than they were against Enterprise.
“This week, we’ve got our hands full,” Wells said of the Bears, who are 5-1 so far this season. “Summit Academy is a good team, with a good, big quarterback, who has a good arm and can run.”
This year’s homecoming game may have a different look and feel than most homecoming games because it is a non-region game late in the season.
“This game really doesn’t mean anything,” Wells said. “We’re just trying to get healthy going into the Parowan game (Friday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m. in Parowan) to try to finish the season a little higher in region.”
Even though the game has no bearing on the overall outcome of the 2014 season, Wells said the team will be fired up.
“It’s always an emotional week with the parade, the assembly, those kinds of things. It’s hard to stay focused on the game.” Wells said. “It’ll be fun for the guys; they’re going to be busy.”
It was just tough; we were outmanned. It’s just been one of those years with trying to put bodies on the field.
Injury-plagued Grand struggles in 42-14 debacle
What: Red Devil football homecoming game versus Summit Academy
When: Friday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Where: Grand County High School, 608 S. 400 East
