The Granite Bay Grizzlies faced the Jesuit Marauders on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

The Grizzlies came out of the gates firing with an early interception and a long gain a play later to put them in scoring position. A short run put GB ahead 7-0 with only a few minutes run off the clock.   

 Off a recovered fumble on the very next drive, the Grizzlies took over possession and ran in another touchdown to go up 14-0  in the first quarter. Both touchdowns belonged to running back Evan Tattersall, who also finished the game with 6½ tackles on defense.

In the second quarter, the Marauders finally woke up when they put together a solid drive finished off by a short run to bring it back to 14-7, which was the score at halftime.

A Grizzly field goal from the right hashmark put Granite Bay up 17-7, but a quick response by the Marauders led to a long touchdown, cutting the lead to 17-14.

A muffed kickoff by the Grizzlies handed Jesuit the ball in great scoring position, and the Marauders capitalized two running plays later to take their first lead of the game, 21-17.

The Marauders were held to only 204 yards of total offense during the game along with three turnovers.

The Grizzlies fielded the next kickoff and put together an impressive second-chance drive to take back the lead by three, 24-21. 

With five minutes to go in the game, Granite Bay destroyed all hope for the Marauders with a short corner fade pass to Ryan Smith for the Grizzlies’ fourth touchdown of the game.  Smith’s TD gave the Grizzlies their final margin of victory, 31-21.

“Our (offensive) line did really well the whole game,” said Will Craig, a senior and team captain, after the game. “Jade (Foddrill) played phenomenal (at quarterback), defense was exceptional, it was a great game all around.”

Smith, the Grizzlies’ tight end, said the victory will hopefully be a harbinger of good things to come for a team that struggled last year to a 4-7 overall record.

“Getting a first win,” Smith said, “really helps us for the rest of the season.”

The Grizzlies, who were ranked No. 3 in the area by the Sacramento Bee going into Friday’s game against No. 2-ranked Jesuit, will next play Whitney of Rocklin this Friday. Granite Bay moved up to No. 2 in the rankings released Monday. Jesuit switched spots with Granite Bay and is now ranked No. 3.

Whitney, which opened the season with a 50-28 victory against Davis on Friday, moved up in the Bee rankings from No. 17 to No. 15.