Grizzlies guaranteed co-championship

Sierra Delta League

Golden Sierra   5-0
Highlands   4-1
Bradshaw C.   3-2
Victory C.   3-2
Rio Vista   2-3
Encina Prep    1-4
San Juan   0-5

SACRAMENTO — Behind an efficient ground game and aggressive defense, Golden Sierra clinched a share of the Sierra Delta League banner with Saturday’s 35-14 victory over host Encina at El Camino High.

The Grizzlies now sport a 5-0 league record and can win the title outright with a win against San Juan on Friday.

“The student body and community is excited about the possibility of going undefeated in league but to do that we’ll have to stay humble, focused and work hard in practice (this week),” Griz coach John Hilton said.

Golden Sierra led 21-0 at the half. All six of its touchdowns came via the rush, including Cameron Stephen’s 47-yard dash just inside the third quarter that upped the Grizzly lead to 28-zip.

“I just followed my blocks — it was all them,” Stephens said. “We didn’t play our best but we got a ‘W’ and that’s what counts.”

The visitors scored on their first possession as Stephens took it in from the 2. Brian Cann scored from the 3 to start the second before quarterback Bryson Campbell followed his line of center Kyle Moe and Justin Eicher, Trevor Pedri, Kyle Hensman and Ryan Echeveria into the end zone from short yardage to boost Golden Sierra’s advantage to 21-0.

Cann had the hustle play of the night, possibly the year, when he ran down a Bulldog sprinting toward the end zone. Not only did he catch him, Cann jarred the ball loose for Adam Sewell to recover.

“I decided I need to turn it on and make a tackle for the team and then I decided to strip the ball,” Cann said. “I could sense the player (runner) was totally relaxed.”

Defensivley, the Grizzlies pressured Encina. Sewell and Echeveria had sacks, Daniel Lesher intercepted a pass and as a unit, Golden Sierra made five, fourth-down stops to return the ball to the offense.

“We all gave it our best and played like a family and trusted each other,” Grizzly linebacker Zander Mishler said.

Cann’s 6-yard run, his second touchdown, completed the scoring in the fourth quarter.

Jerry Heinzer

Jerry Heinzer is going on 12 years as an employee of the Mountain Democrat and is currently the Sports Editor. Contact Jerry at 530-344-5074 or jheinzer@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @ JHeinzerMtDemo on Twitter.

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