GRANGER — The Granger Lions’ impressive football season came to an end Friday night in the regional round of the playoffs, falling 42-14 to the Junction Eagles.
The defeat marked the conclusion of a successful campaign for the Lions, who finished with a 12-1 record and secured an outright district championship.
Senior quarterback Wyatt Rochner faced his toughest game of the season, throwing three interceptions and struggling to find consistency throughout the contest. Despite the setback, the Lions showed resilience early on.
Junction took control early, establishing a 21-0 lead by dominating the line of scrimmage with two rushing touchdowns. The Eagles were able to control time of possession and keep the Lions offense off the field with its ground game.
Granger finally responded late in the first half. On a long drive that resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run by senior running back Caleb Hobratsch, who has been a key offensive player all season. His score cut the deficit to 21-7 at halftime.
Hobratsch, who averaged over 150 yards and nearly a touchdown per game during the regular season, was held to just 33 rushing yards and one score in this game, hampered by Junction’s stout defensive front.
Coming out of halftime, the Lions orchestrated a scoring drive that was capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Rochner to senior wide receiver Caleb Tucker, narrowing the deficit to 21-14. The momentum, however, was short-lived.
Junction responded with a quick drive, culminating in a 3-yard rushing touchdown that extended the Eagles’ lead to 28-14. From there, Junction continued to control possession, running out the clock and adding two more rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal their victory.
Rochner finished with 13 completions on 29 attempts for 149 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. His top targets were Tucker, who caught six passes for 66 yards and a score, and Ryder Bice, who totaled 68 receiving yards.
Despite the loss, the Lions’ season was a successful one, capped by a district title and a 12-1 overall record. Granger defeated D’Hanis, 55-0, in the bi-district round and Yorktown, 62-30, in the area round.
With 19 seniors on the roster, Granger will face the challenge of rebuilding its team for next season. The program will look to develop new leaders and build on this year’s success as they prepare for the future.
