AURORA — Jake Hand found himself in one of those situations Thursday night.
He was alone, as wide open as the spaces of Legacy Stadium near the Aurora Reservoir.
And he was worried.
“I just didn’t want to drop it,” the running back said.
So he caught a 63-yard touchdown pass, the first of his four scores, as ThunderRidge won another tight one against the upper crust of Class 5A, 34-20 over host Grandview in nonleague.
The Grizzlies, ranked No. 8 in The Denver Post’s 5A coaches and media poll, moved to 2-1. The Wolves, ranked 10th, dipped to 1-2.
“I was just glad I caught it,” said Hand, who later had touchdown runs of 2, 9 and 30 yards.
His first score came in the second quarter as the Grizzlies made their move, then fended off Grandview. ThunderRidge trailed 6-0 early before a 20-point binge gave them some room.
Ultimately, a Grandview fumble at the Grizzlies’ 1-yard line midway through the fourth quarter spelled doom. They had just converted on fourth-and-16 from their 30-yard line and threatened to tie it at 27, but mistakes haunted the Wolves.
“That’s our first turnover of the year,” said Wolves coach John Schultz.
Despite being hurt by big plays and steady drives by the Grizzlies, Grandview had hung tough despite star wide receiver Tanner Gentry being held to only two receptions for 15 yards. Gentry had given the Wolves their early 6-0 lead on 34-yard run.
However, the ThunderRidge pass rush pressured quarterback Reece Weber all game — and the Grizzlies’ ability to sustain drives was a major difference too.
Junior quarterback Brody Westmoreland threw two touchdown passes, including one to Mark Hopper.
ThunderRidge was banged up from last week’s 29-25 thriller against Ralston Valley, which worried coach Joe Johnson.
“It was a tough turnaround for us,” Johnson said. “We were a little beat up. I was really concerned that we weren’t ready.”
Johnson, whose team gets Bear Creek next, called his team’s current stretch “Murderers’ Row. We have to be ready.”
Weber added two touchdown runs for Grandview, one on a 24-yarder, the other on a 1-yard plunge. On the play before his second score, the ThunderRidge defense knocked his helmet off and it flew back 5 yards. Forced to sit out a play, Weber returned and scored.
“That guy’s a good player,” Johnson said. “He’s something else.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714, ndevlin@denverpost.com or
