The Grand County football team got its running game going on Friday, Oct. 10, taking it to the Parowan Rams on the ground en route to four rushing touchdowns on its way to a 26-16 victory, which snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Red Devils, who before Friday night hadn’t won since a 42-0 victory over North Sevier on Sept. 5, improved to 2-6, 2-3 in 2A South play, with one regular season game remaining. The Red Devils are locked into the No. 5 seed from the region, meaning they will play on the road against the No. 4 seed from 2A North on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
The Red Devils spotted the Rams a 3-0 lead before scoring 14 unanswered points, after which they never trailed. After recovering two of their own fumbles before punting on a sloppy opening drive, the Red Devils committed two 15-yard penalties, which aided Parowan in putting up the game’s first points on a 43-yard field goal by kicker Orlando Quezada.
But, the Red Devils immediately flipped the switch, responding with several long runs from the combination of seniors Ronnie Dolphin and Tanner White, and junior Dalton McElhaney, which culminated in a three-yard touchdown run from White. Senior Qordale Tsosie rushed into the end zone for the two-point conversion, giving Grand an 8-3 lead.
Dolphin tacked on an eight-yard scoring run in the middle of the second quarter, followed by a blocked point-after, extending the lead to 14-3.
The Rams played beneficiary to an ill-advised throw into traffic from McElhaney late in the second quarter, intercepting the pass and capitalizing with a Brenen Rowley one-yard score before the half to cut the deficit to 14-10.
The Red Devils continued their steady running game in the second half, getting several players involved on their way to two additional rushing scores: a four-yarder from McElhaney late in the third quarter and a five-yarder from White in the fourth quarter. The Rams scored a touchdown on a five-yard pass from Rowley to Bubba Robinson to cut the deficit to 26-16, but the Rams botched the onside kick and the Red Devil offense successfully ran out the clock for the victory.
The Red Devils play the arch-rival San Juan Broncos in Moab on Thursday, Oct. 16 in each team’s regular season finale. The Broncos have clinched the No. 1 seed from 2A South, and a first round bye, with their 8-0 record, including a 5-0 mark in 2A South play.
The Red Devil seniors will be honored prior to the game, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
If you go:
What: Red Devil football versus San Juan
When: Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.
Where: Grand County High School, 608 S. 400 East
Red Devils snap four-game losing streak
