AURORA | Since giving up a touchdown on the opening drive of the season in Week One, the Grandview defense has been nearly perfect.
Despite several challenges from Chaparral in Friday night’s non-league contest at Legacy Stadium, the Wolves held strong in the red zone and extended their shutout streak to seven-plus quarters in a 14-0 victory.
While the defense did its job, senior quarterback Tyler Smith got Grandview (2-0) on the scoreboard with a 46-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the third quarter and Ben Marshall added a 5-yard TD run in the fourth quarter for insurance as the Wolves avenged a 35-14 loss to the Wolverines (0-2) in 2012.
Grandview’s defensive effort allowed the Wolves to win despite generating only 161 yards of total offense — 99 rushing, 63 passing.
Smith overcame two interceptions with his bomb to Solomon — which came after he bought time by rolling towards the sideline and dropping the ball into Solomon’s arms — and finished 5-for-11 for 62 yards.
Marshall needed 17 carries to get his team-high 49 rushing yards and got Grandview’s important second touchdown after a pass interference call on Chaparral set the Wolves up with a first-and-goal at the 5.
Both teams’ kickers missed field goal tries in the third quarter of a scoreless game, as the Wolverines’ Ford Edwards pushed a 38-yard attempt wide right and the Wolves’ Kenny Nguyen sent his 34-yard try wide left.
Next up for Grandview is a rematch with ThunderRidge (1-0), the team that knocked it out of last season’s Class 5A state playoffs in the quarterfinals. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
GRANDVIEW 14, CHAPARRAL 0
Score by quarters:
Chaparral 0 0 0 0 — 0
Grandview 0 0 7 7 — 14
SCORING
Third quarter
Grandview — Frank Solomon 46 yard pass from Tyler Smith (Kenny Nguyen kick), 5.3
Fourth quarter
Grandview — Ben Marshall 5 yard run (Nguyen kick), 8:55