Pacers come up big
Mike Alberghini proudly proclaims his Grant Pacers to be big fish lurking in the big pond of high school football, and he’s right.
The veteran coach can actually up it a bit, too. The Pacers often play the role of sharks prowling in open waters, pouncing at the slightest scent of vulnerability.
In exacting a measure of revenge and showcasing its dynamite tailback, its booming kicker and a resilient second-half defense, No. 3 Grant erupted in the third quarter to buckle No. 2 Folsom 43-16 Saturday night in Del Paso Heights in the opener for both teams.
Grant trailed 16-7 at the half, then dominated the final two quarters in a meeting of the defending state champion Bulldogs and the winningest team in the Sac-Joaquin Section the last two decades. Grant beat Folsom in an opener last season, though the Bulldogs ran the table from there in one of the most remarkable seasons in section history, including rolling the Pacers in the section Division II final.
Grant players to a man and seemingly everyone in the overflow gathering that packed the Pacers seats were eager for a shot at Folsom, on their turf and to sample the start of a murderous early schedule. Next is visiting national super power Long Beach Poly.
“We like to play in big games that’s what we do,” Alberghini said before the game. “We want to be involved in special games for the kids and the community. We got our wish.”
Three mainstays from Grant’s team last season are back, eager for a senior season to remember. Shaq Thompson had a spectacular 70-yard touchdown called back on the first play from scrimmage one of 26 penalties issued by crew chief Joel Miller and his flag-happy partners. Thompson then scored on runs of nine, two and 11 yards in the third quarter as Grant seized control.
Thompson doesn’t just score, mind you. He demoralizes foes, reversing field on the longer two runs at a full sprint. The national recruit had 120 rushing yards but was limited in the fourth with cramps. Several Grant linemen limped off the field with injuries.
Another senior leader for Grant is quarterback Terry Shine, who injected life into his team in the third quarter by running the ball.
And there’s kicker Charlie Vu, the state’s leading scorer last fall. He had second-half field goals of 35, 46 and 33 yards.
Folsom and the area in general found out that it has a quarterback marvel to lead its team. Tanner Trosin, a backup to national Player of the Year Dano Graves last season, looked every bit the part of star passer. He passed for 244 yards in the first half, zipping a 22-yard touchdown to J.J. Muldrow. Trosin finished with 361 passing yards and took some brutal shots in the second half, and never slowed down.
And in a bigger sense, neither did Grant. The Pacers intercepted Trosin three times in the second half, one each by Johnathan Iulio, Isaiah Taylor and Trayvon Henderson, each leading to a score.
Much like the two meetings last season, there was good sportsmanship throughout. The programs players, coaches, alumni have deep respect for each other. And the teams could meet again, in the playoffs. The first two players to greet Folsom coaches and captains following the section title loss were senior captains Vei Moala and Puka Lopa, both at Cal. Those defensive linemen were on hand Saturday and were the first to greet both sides.
Similar Posts:
- No. 1 Pleasant Grove gets past No. 6 Folsom
- College programs take gleam from Optimist All-Stars
- High school football: Five weeks in, unbeatens are few in the Sacramento area
- Marcos Breton: Grant High’s Alberghini at top of his game
- Demps leads Eagles’ show
