The Granger Lions varsity football team defeated the Thorndale Bulldogs 45-21 on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Taylor High School football field.
Granger struck first in the opening quarter when senior quarterback Wyatt Rochner connected with senior running back Caleb Hobrastch on a 20-yard wheel route to make it 7-0. Hobrastch once again served as the spark for the Lions’ offense, finding the end zone multiple times both on the ground and through the air.
After the early touchdown, the game turned into a defensive battle.
Both teams had difficulty moving the ball past midfield, and the Lions carried their 7-0 lead into halftime.
The momentum shifted in the second half as Granger’s offense came alive. The Lions outscored Thorndale 38-21 over the final two quarters, with both teams finally finding rhythm offensively. Granger relied heavily on its ground game, wearing down the Bulldogs’ defensive line that had been stout in the first half.
A key moment came in the fourth quarter when Thorndale’s quarterback mishandled a snap. Senior linebacker Kael Jackson pounced on the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, stretching Granger’s lead to 42-14 and sealing the victory.
Defensively, the Lions were anchored by brothers Caleb and Noah Hobrastch, who combined for several tackles for loss and disrupted Thorndale’s backfield throughout the night.
With the victory, Granger improved to 2-0 on the season. The Lions will look to stay unbeaten when they travel to face Holland on Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.
