The Granger Lions varsity football team lost its first district game of the season, 32-15, to the Sommerville Yeguas on Friday, Oct. 18. The Lions' offense struggled and was unable to capitalize in pivotal moments.
The game began as a defensive battle, with both teams failing to score on their first two drives. Sommerville was first on the board with a 70-yard screenplay for a touchdown, making it 6-0 after a missed point-after attempt. The Lions quickly responded when junior wide receiver Joseph Sifuentes returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, giving Granger a 7-6 lead. Sifuentes had an impressive day as a kick returner, providing the Lions with multiple short fields.
Unfortunately for Granger, the team could not take advantage of the favorable field position, as several drives in the red zone ended in punts or turnovers. The Lions were hampered by penalties that pushed them back, ultimately keeping them off the scoreboard. The Yeguas capitalized on these mistakes, scoring on a jump ball that was caught and run in for a touchdown, giving Sommerville a 12-7 lead at halftime. Lions head coach Gaston McDorman discussed the team's inability to seize key opportunities.
