Sophomore quarterback DeJon Packer and senior running back Felipe Negron proved to be the difference Friday night as Gunderson edged host Leigh, 32-30, in the BVAL-Santa Teresa "B" Division opener for both teams. The Grizzlies improve to 3-1, while the Longhorns fall to 1-3.
“Leigh was trying to stop us outside on our option," Gunderson coach Steve Papin said. "Our sophomore quarterback and our running back Felipe Negron had a big day running up inside, so I think our offensive line did a good job inside."
Trailing 32-24 with under five minutes to play, Leigh senior quarterback Gabe Davis drove his team down the field, capping a long drive with a two-yard run to make it 32-30 with 1:53 left. However, Davis was stopped just short of the goal line on the ensuing two-point conversion.
“Big threats, going into it, there were a lot of good players, such as (Tayvry Carrasco), their quarterback, and (Lavon) Donald. They’re great players," Gunderson running back Nick Melchor said. "They did their job out there, and we did ours. We adjusted to their defense, and we came together really well.”
After a dazzling 73-yard run by senior running back Lavon Donald put Leigh up, 24-20, Negron answered with a 54-yard TD run to put the Grizzlies back ahead, 26-24. Then following an interception by Packer, Negron struck again for a 22-yard touchdown scamper to increase the lead to 32-24. However, for the fourth time on the night, the Grizzlies failed on the conversion attempt, as they decided to go for two and Packer was stopped short, leaving the door open for the Longhorns.
“Our key plays were Felipe Negron with two touchdown runs that brought us back in the game and just working hard on defense and just shutting them down and getting the pick,” Packer said.
The first quarter got rolling quickly just minutes into the game with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Davis to wide receiver Alec Smith to put Leigh up, 7-0. But Gunderson responded with a 63-yard touchdown run down the right side by Packer with 8:15 left in the first.
Leigh picked up an extra three points with a 28-yard field goal by kicker Michael Leitchman with 22 seconds left. The Grizzlies took advantage of those last seconds of the first half, however, to retake the lead, 14-10, on a 91-yard kickoff return by safety Tasean Clark and a two-point conversion by Packer.
“(Packer) is our go-to guy. We kind of go as he goes," Papin said. "He’s actually a running back that we moved to quarterback. He’s the guy that I think that when he’s a senior he’ll have Division I offers to go play college."
Leigh continued to fight back with a 24-yard run down the right sideline by Donald, who followed with a 3-yard TD run on first-and-goal, leaving the score 17-14 heading into halftime.
Leigh (1-3, 0-1 BVAL-ST) now heads off to play at Lincoln, while Gunderson (3-1, 1-0) will play Branham. Both games are on Oct. 5 at 7 pm.
