Colorado Springs – Mesa Ridge was in an unfamiliar spot Friday night with a two-touchdown lead after the first quarter against Mitchell.
So the Grizzlies, who have not had a winning season since the school opened in 1997, did what everyone probably expected them to do – they gave it back and trailed at halftime.
However, new coach Rob Braaten wasn’t about to let old habits mar a new season.
“I said, ‘The book on this team is you have a lot of talent, but won’t finish or step up in the crunch time,” Braaten said of his halftime speech. “We really didn’t yell, we really didn’t make any adjustments.”
But the Grizzlies did the unusual, scoring the next three touchdowns to cruise to a 32-22 Class 4A nonleague victory over the Marauders in the season opener for both teams.
Mesa Ridge, 2-8 last season, got four touchdown passes and an interception from quarterback Marcel Gibbons and 146 yards rushing from senior Kenny Galbreath for a victory Braaten hopes is the first step to something positive.
Afterwards, Braaten certainly did everything he could to stoke the moment. He got water tossed on him, led the band in a rendition of the school’s fight song and shook more hands than a politician in early November.
“I’m really proud of our guys,” the former Yuma coach said.
Mitchell appeared in control of the game after shaking off a lethargic first quarter to take a 14-12 halftime lead. The Marauders got on track early in the second quarter with a 17-play drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown dive by Nick Scales.
With the stiff northern wind at their backs to start the third quarter, the Marauders failed to capitalize. They got one first down in the quarter and Gibbons’ interception with 1:17 left before the fourth quarter proved crucial.
The Grizzlies took control nine seconds later when Galbreath’s draw play went around the right side for a 37-yard touchdown.
“We just didn’t play very well in the second half,” Mitchell coach Archie Malloy said. “The kids we look to to make plays on both sides of the ball just didn’t do it. A lot of people standing around not doing their assignments.”
Gibbons completed six passes for 110 yards and he rushed for another 40.
Scales led the Marauders with 105 yards rushing on 23 carries. Tight end Andreas Braxton caught touchdown passes of 24 and 13 yards, the latter coming with 2.4 seconds remaining.
Mitchell 0 14 0 8 – 22
Mesa Ridge 12 0 14 6 – 32
MR – Grimaldo 31 pass from Gibbons (pass failed). MR – Green 3 pass from Gibbons (run failed). M – Scales 1 run (kick failed). M – Braxton 24 pass from Paul (Braxton pass from Paul). MR – Salas 5 pass from Gibbons (Galbreath run). MR – Galbreath 37 run (kick blocked). MR – Grimaldo 27 pass from Gibbons (kick blocked). M – Braxton 13 pass from Paul (Paul run).
