The Granger Lions varsity football team advanced to the third round of the playoffs with a dominant 62–30 win over the Yorktown Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 21.
Senior running back Caleb Hobratsch powered the Lions’ offense, rushing for 171 yards and three touchdowns.
Yorktown struck first on a 15-yard touchdown run, though a missed extra-point attempt left the Wildcats with a 6– 0 lead.
Granger answered quickly. Hobratsch broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run to give the Lions a 7– 6 advantage. Late in the first quarter, he added a second score out of the wildcat formation, extending the lead to 14– 6.
The Lions’ momentum continued into the second quarter.
Senior quarterback Wyatt Rochner connected with senior wide receiver Caleb Tucker on a 15-yard to touchdown pass to make it 21–6. Moments later, Rochner kept the ball on a quarterback run and sprinted 60 yards to push the lead 28– 6. Tucker reached the end zone again on a 7-yard screen pass, stretching the margin to 35– 6. Yorktown briefly cut into the deficit, scoring to make it 35–12, but the Lions quickly responded.
Hobratsch capped his standout night with a 37-yard rushing touchdown, pushing the score to 42–12.
Tucker then completed his hat trick, turning another screen pass into a 15-yard touchdown as the Lions entered halftime firmly in control, leading 48–12.
Granger added two more scores after the break, including a 5-yard touchdown pass from Rochner to senior wide receiver Kael Jackson. Senior running back Dayton Knippa sealed the win with a 35-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. Rochner finished an efficient night under center, completing 7 of 9 passes for 75 yards and four touchdowns while adding 135 yards and a rushing score.
Tucker recorded three receptions for 42 yards — each one resulting in a touchdown.
Knippa contributed 79 yards on the ground and a touchdown.
With the win, Granger advances to the regional round of the postseason, where it will face the undefeated Junction Eagles, who improved to 12–0 after a 42–13 victory over Falls City. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Friday in Johnson City.
