Grand Terrace has their hand’s full this week with a Division 3 powerhouse in Santiago High School Sharks from Corona. Grand Terrace is coming off a win with confidence to put up a fight against Santiago High School. Santiago Sharks coming into this game after consecutive losses trying to turn around their season for playoffs.
Santiago Sharks came out making a statement on defense by picking off Mekhi Lewis #12 and taking it 36-yards to the house!
After a third punt by Kyle Waldon #16 with Grand Terrace, Santiago had good field position but Grand Terrace’s Defense stopped them for a 23-yard field goal.
Grand Terrace had their best drive yet setting up Dominic Balderrama #19 to burn the Cornerback for Mekhi Lewis #12 to throw a 52-yard dime to him for a wide open touchdown putting 7 on the scoreboard 10-7.
Santiago Sharks answered back with a 56-yard bomb from Castillo Nathaniel #11 to Jackson Kurtz #89 to extend the lead to 17-7.
Santiago’s Safety Jack Wolfe #4 picked off Mekhi Lewis and return it to Grand Terrace’s 36-yard line giving their offense field position to work with. As the Quarterback Castillo Nathaniel #11 kept getting first downs with his legs, he finished the drive off with a 9-yard touchdown strike to Jackson Kurtz #89 for a consecutive scoring drive 24-7.
Grand Terrace is looking to end Santiago Sharks momentum with a score of their own. After a 4th down pass conversion is knocked down, the Santiago Sharks will start their drive on Grand Terrace’s 40-yard line. On second down the Quarterback Castillo Nathaniel #11 tried to challenged Quincy Preston’s one on one coverage but he snatched the ball out of the air for an Interception.
After a couple first downs by Grand Terrace Titans, Jack Wolfe #4 intercepted Mekhi Lewis for his second Interception of the game. A big sack by Troy Steptoe #27 ended Santiago’s drive to take the score 24-7 into halftime.
Coming out of Halftime Grand Terrace is trying to jumpstart their offense to put points on the scoreboard while Santiago Is going to continue their dominance on both sides of the ball. Grand Terrace received the ball and out hot with several first downs but simmered down after failing to reach the 25-yard line for a first down.
Santiago on a third and long kept that hot connection between Castillo Nathaniel #11 and Jackson Kurtz #89 going with a 47-yard pass down to the opponent 26-yard line then capped the drive with a 3-yard bulldozing Touchdown run by Vincent Pacleb #1.
Grand Terrace is starting their drive at the 46-yard line with their best field position they started a drive with all game. After a turnover on downs at the 20-yard line, Damion Williams #4 ran in front of Santiago’s Receiver and picked it off making a huge play for Grand Terrace to comeback into this game.
After another punt by Kyle Waldon #16 of Grand Terrace, Santiago drove down the field with their Quarterback read option play and took Grand Terrace off guard with a deep 30 yard pass to Jackson Kurtz #89 down to the 6-yard line. Castillo Nathaniel #11 found an open hole on a read option and ran it in for a touchdown extending his impressive performance, making the lead 38-7. Pretty much closing out this game with 9 minutes to play.
After punts by both teams Grand Terrace got 2 long first downs with passes to Michael Kearns #22 and Garrett Ostrinski #15 then got their second score with a lob pass by Mekhi Lewis #12 to Garrett Ostrinski #15 with a great grab to put the score to 38-14 showing Grand Terrace Titans still have some fight in them.
Grand Terrace Titans on their last drive was just throwing up prayers to the endzone to get a last score before the end of the game but none of them were answered. Santiago kneed the ball to end the game victorious 38-14 to improve their record to 2-2 while Grand Terrace takes a step back to 2-2 going home with a-lot to work on during the week for their next game.