No. 5 Grant 49, No. 24 Folsom 14

FOLSOM, Calif. — Live blog from Folsom High School, site of the national showdown between No. 5 Grant (Sacramento) and host and 24th-ranked Folsom.

6:30 p.m.: Well, it's almost here - the game folks around here have been talking, writing and blogging about for about five months.

ESPN cameras are here. Both sides of the stands are packed and the junior varsity game just concluded. The visiting Grant Pacers took that one, 20-7, though the second half was played with a running clock so the game wouldn't butt up against the scheduled start.

Both schools conducted early morning pep rallies. Folsom's started at 6 a.m. - Grant, an hour later. Students, family, alumni shook out the early-morning cobwebs and had a raucous good time. Local TV from every station also showed.

Besides being a national showdown between two Top 25 teams, it's also a community Super Bowl.

"Both schools and communities should be proud," said Mary Ann McAlea, the Folsom Director of Tourism. "It's a feel good story all around no matter what the result."

We'll see how both teams and school feel in about 3.5 hours.


6:45 p.m.: Grant baseball coach Danny Chavez is on the Pacers' sideline, marveling about junior do-all blue chip recruit Shaq Thompson.

Seems Thompson hadn't played competitive baseball since he was 10, but started for the Pacers in center field and pitcher last season. He did that during the same season he ran track and made the state meet finals.

Thompson was named this week to our top 100 national football recruits from the Class of 2012.

"The kid can do anything," Chavez said. "You watch."

We can't wait.

7:04 p.m.: Grant wins toss, elects to receive and ball kicked into end zone.

FIRST QUARTER

Well, that was impressive. Grant goes 80 yards in 11 plays on first drive of the game, finished off with a 10-yard TD keeper by first-year starting QB Terry Shine. Grant 7, Folsom 0. 7:36 left in first quarter. Thompson is good as advertise, ripping off a couple tough eight-yard runs and taking a screen and rambling for 18 more to set up the TD.

Folsom comes right back, traveling to the Grant 18 following a 53-yard pass from Dano Graves to Carson McMurtrey. But one play later, Graves was picked off in the end zone by Ference Lang, who returned it 45 yards.

Grant 14, Folsom 0 (3:56 left in 1st): Shine scores his second TD, this one a 1-yard sneak after a 38-yard screen pass to Shaq Thompson.

That last TD was set up following a fantastic interception at the goal line by Ferrence Lang and nifty 45-yard return. Grant looks awesome.

Grant 14, Folsom 7 (5 seconds left in 1st): The Bulldogs aren't dead yet, going 71 capped by a 1-yard TD pass from Graves to Tyler Trossin.Total yards thus far: Grant 134, Folsom 127.

END OF FIRST QUARTER.

Grant 21, Folsom 7 (7:25 left in second): Shine is definitely shinning, firing a 26-yard TD pass to - who else? - Thompson, who is doing it all.

A key penalty on fourth down kept the 80-yard drive alive and Shine, who doesn't look like a first-year starting QB fired a nice soft pass to the soft hands of Thompson, who snared it at the 5 and walked into the end zone, giving the momentum back to the Pacers.

Grant 28, Folsom 7 (3:45 left in half): Thompson is at it again, bowling over sure tackler Burton Dekeoning on an 8-yard TD run.

Grant 35, Folsom 7 (40 seconds left in half): This is starting to get ugly. Shine shines once more with 41-yard TD strike to Ronald Johnson.

Does this score sound familiar? That's the score Folsom led by at halftime last season when it lost 43-42 to Del Oro on the same field. The bitter defeat ended Folsom's season in the SJS semifinals.

END OF THE SECOND QUARTER

HALFTIME NOTES: Both teams jogged off the field almost in silence. Grant, very much looking like the fifth-ranked team in the country, wasn't celebrating or rubbing it in despite Folsom's large home contingent. ... The one factor Grant coach Mike Alberghini seemed concerned was how Shine would respond in his first start. ... He won't be worrying about that in the second half. Shine not only is running the offense crisply, but he's throwing a very nice, easy ball to catch. ... The Pacers are also utilizing their superior size up front. Not only are their linemen huge, but appear in great shape. Despite controlling the ball much of the half, the Pacers aren't really even breathing that hard. .... Fortunately, the temperatures, well over 100 degrees earlier in the week, are currently in the mid- to low 60s. ... A swirling breeze isn't helping Folsom's high octane, timing offense. ... Graves, who accounted for 66 touchdowns last year and completed 75 percent of his passes, is just 7 of 15 for 122 yards and two interceptions. ... Shine is 6 of 11 for 144 yards and two scores. He's also run for two TDs. ... Those numbers are extremely unofficial.

THIRD QUARTER

Graves completes 50-yard pass to Jordan Richards to open second half, but drive stalls and Grant holds on downs.

This place, overflowing with probably 6,000 fans, is now very quiet.

Grant 42, Folsom 7 (6:24 left in third): One play after Shine went down with a leg cramp, backup QB Josiah Banks sneaks in from the 1.

Folks it's only midway through the third quarter and the game is 2.5-hours long.

Grant 42, Folsom 14 (4:20 left in third): Graves scores on 8-yard run after completing five straight passes. Nice drive, but too late.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER

Grant 49, Folsom 14 (6:48 left in 4th): Wow, another Shine TD pass, this one 26 yards to Lang. Guess no lead is too safe against Folsom.

Shine, not Graves, has accounted for five touchdowns. Who would have thought that?

Guess what? Another TV timeout. Game time now 3:09 with 6:48 left.

Grant 49, Folsom 14 (final): Grant looks very much worthy as one of the top teams in the nation after this one. Game time: 3 hours, 26 min.
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