ThunderRidge’s passing game opens up the run in win vs. Grandview

HIGHLANDS RANCH — There is an old adage that some football coaches have always adhered to: You run to set up the pass.

On Friday evening at Shea Stadium, top-ranked ThunderRidge did exactly the opposite, and it worked in the Grizzlies’ favor. ThunderRidge came out throwing the ball early, and that success helped lead to 207 yards on the ground as the team held off No. 4 Grandview 21-7 in non-league play.

Grizzlies quarterback Brody Westmoreland completed his first six passes in the first quarter for 163 yards, but only needed 36 more yards over the final three quarters as the rushing attack took over.

Junior Matt Stanley, a fullback by trade, carried the ball 27 times for 157 yards and two scores and Tristan Powers added another touchdown on the ground.

“Not really any of the credit should go to me,” Stanley said. “It’s all my O-line. I’ve got those huge holes, all I have to do is run through them.”

ThunderRidge (3-0) put up two quick scores on the board in the first quarter and added one more on its opening drive of the third quarter. Grandview (2-1) struggled to convert on third down and was nearly shut out before quarterback Tyler Smith connected with Isaiah Lang for a 51-yard touchdown pass in the final five minutes.

“We’re a young team, especially offensively,” Wolves coach John Schultz said. “I felt our defense, holding them to 21 points, was a good effort.

“We didn’t convert drives. Our offense just has to finish drives.”

Finishing wasn’t a problem early for ThunderRidge. Playing in front of a packed house at Shea Stadium, and with the weather dry for the first time all week, Westmoreland connected with 6-foot-4 wideout Mark Hopper on passes of 33 and 25 yards on the opening drive. Powers finished things off with a 1-yard run.

Grandview had a strong opening possession of its own that stalled late and ended with a missed 45-yard field goal. Westmoreland then hit Jon Jones on a 63-yard seam down the middle, and after a 12-yard strike to Hopper, Stanley scored on a 5-yard run.

Hopper had six catches for 121 yards.

“He’s a very dangerous receiver,” ThunderRidge coach Joe Johnson said. “If you’re going to commit to play man on him, he’s going to hurt you. He did that tonight and he did that against Dakota (Ridge).”

The Wolves had a 12-play drive late in the first half, but ThunderRidge’s Collin Hankins intercepted a Smith pass in the end zone. The Grizzlies continually pounded the ball up the middle behind its big, bruising offensive line in the second half, and Stanley capped an impressive drive that included runs of 26, 13 and 24 yards with a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0.

“They’re a very good football team. They can throw it and run it — they have one of the best offenses in the state,” Schultz said. “It was a challenge our defense needed.”

Smith finished 8-of-21 passing for 140 yards and the long touchdown pass to Lang to pace Grandview. Juniors Austin Quarles and Ben Marshall combined for 91 yards rushing, but the Grizzlies’ defense was persistent in swarming to the ball throughout the evening.

“We’re playing well on defense, and we have all three games,” Johnson said. “We have a lot of confidence, and if we can be a little smarter at the end of game about long passes, we’d really be tough. I just love the way we’re hustling to the ball.”

Grandview has one more non-league contest next week against Mullen before opening Centennial League play Sept. 27 against Eaglecrest. ThunderRidge plays Bear Creek next Saturday, with the big Continental League opener against Regis Jesuit coming just six days later.

Victories over Dakota Ridge, Ralston Valley and now Grandview can only help as the Grizzlies gear up for league play.

“We feel like it battle-tests us a little bit. If we can come out healthy, we’ll be better for it,” Johnson said. “That’s the plan.”