The Granger Lions varsity football team will face a tough test Friday, Sept. 5, when it hosts the Thorndale Bulldogs at 7 p.m. at Granger High School.
Both teams opened the season with victories, as the Lions defeated Johnson City 49-33 and Thorndale rolled past Thrall 31-3 in the “Battle of Highway 79.”
Friday’s matchup could come down to a clash of strengths. Granger leans on an explosive offense led by seniors Caleb Hobratsch, Dayton Knippa and quarterback Wyatt Rochner, who each scored multiple touchdowns against Johnson City. Thorndale, meanwhile, showed in its opener that it has a stout defense anchored by a dominant defensive line. The Bulldogs pressured the quarterback consistently and bottled up Thrall senior running back Christopher Kelm.
Hobratsch enters the matchup in top form after rushing for more than 100 yards and scoring two fourthquarter touchdowns to seal last week’s win. Granger will look to establish him early and often, while Rochner provides balance through the air after throwing two touchdown passes against Johnson City. His favorite target was senior wideout Kael Jackson.
Defensively, the Lions will need improvement after giving up 33 points to the Eagles. Special teams will also be an area of focus, as poor kickoff coverage and muffed punts repeatedly gave Johnson City short fields.
The key to victory will be whether Granger’s run game can break through Thorndale’s defensive front. The Lions will also be motivated by revenge after falling 33-27 to the Bulldogs last season.
