GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER SENIOR GRIZZLY CHRISTIAN DROZEN (NO. 62) HOLDS OFF A DELHI DEFENDER DURING THE GRIZZLIES’ WIN OVER THE HAWKS. THIS FRIDAY, THE GRIZZLIES HOST THE FIRST ROUND OF THE SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION DIVISION 5 PLAYOFFS. THE GAME STARTS AT 7 P.M. IN THE GOLD BOWL. Tomorrow night’s playoff match in the Gold Bowl at the fairgrounds promises to be much more of a football game than last Friday evening’s debacle. Mariposa’s Grizzlies scored at will against Delhi’s hapless Hawks enroute to setting a school record for margin of victory, 73- 0.

That actually wasn’t head coach Bob Kelly’s intention. “We wanted to work on some things with our starters because we have a playoff game coming up, and then we planned to get a lot of playing time for our kids that haven’t gotten that much game time this season,” Kelly said.

The officials threw a giant wrench into those works. Early in the second quarter the officials switched to a running clock after the Grizzlis bolted to a 33-0 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the period.

GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER JUNIOR JUSTIN KINALELE HEADS FOR THE END ZONE ON THIS 22-YARD TOUCHDOWN RUN. KINALELE HAD TWO TOUCHDOWNS IN THE GRIZZLIES’ FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAME OF THE YEAR. “We signed up to play 48 minutes, and because those other guys across the field weren’t ready to play, our guys didn’t get the time to play they deserved,” Kelly said.

Mariposa kicked off to open the contest, and the wheels fell of Delhi’s cart before it ever started rolling. The Hawks fumbled the opening kick-off, and senior Cody Christopher pounced on the

oose ball for the Grizzlies. On the

ery first play from scrimmage,

hristopher bounced outside over he right tackle and dashed to the

nd zone. A.J. Hall added the PAT

ick and it was 7-0 just 4 seconds

nto the game.

The Grizzlies kicked off once more, and on second down from

heir own 29-yard stripe, the Hawks umbled again. This time cornerack

Frankie Peña scooped up the oose ball and raced to paydirt. The ouchdown was called back, temorarily,

on a block in the back inraction giving the Grizzlies

ossession at the Delhi 21.

After Hall gained 6 yards to the Delhi 15, Christopher fou-nd smooth sledding up the middle for his second touchdown. Hall booted the PAT and without 2 minutes running off the first period clock, Mariposa led, 14-0.

Delhi took the ensuing kick-off

and gained a solo first down before punting, which Peña promptly returned 64-yards for another score. Hall’s PAT kick was wide, but Mariposa held a 20-0 bulge with 7:03 on the first quarter clock.

A screen play to tight end Cody Wichmann highlighted the Grizzlies’ next possession which gave Mariposa a first down at the Delhi 33.

Junior running back Justin Kinalele started in motion to the right on the next play, then darted up field on the snap. Junior quarterback Jarrett Leonard zipped the ball to an uncovered Kinalele for the Grizzlies’ final score in the first quarter. The PAT kick failed, but as the quarter wound down, Mariposa was in front, 26-0.

Hall added a 47-yard burst through the middle for a touchdown in the second period, and Christopher found paydirt from 2 yards out. Only one of the PAT kicks were good and the score stood at 39-0 at the intermission.

Mariposa added another 14 points in the third period as Christopher, who finished the contest with 97 yards on 6 carries, scored on a 47-yard ramble, and Hall returned an interception 27 yards for a score.

In the fourth quarter, Brandon Kinalele popped up the middle on a 4-yard blast for another touchdown before his twin brother, Justin, ripped off a 22-yard scoring scamper. Mariposa’s final score came on a 27-yard interception return by Chad Parker. Hall kicked his seventh PAT point through the uprights, and it was finally over.

Six different Grizzlies put points on the board for Mariposa. Christpher led the pack with 4, Hall added 2, as did Justin Kinalele. Peña, Brandon Kinalele, and Parker each added a touchdown.

“I’ve got to give these guys credit,” Kelly said. “Three weeks ago we were 2-5 and they could have folded their tent, but they didn’t give up. They kept scrapping, and that gives me hope for the playoffs.”