Grizzlies improve to 2-1 with 40-0 win over Bulldogs

Granite Bay only played one non-league flag football game before starting its Sierra Foothill League slate. After beating Woodcreek, 13-6, on Aug. 21, the Grizzlies opened their SFL season with a 6-0 loss to Del Oro on Tuesday before blanking winless Folsom, 40-0 on Thursday. While only playing three games, the Grizzlies have nonetheless looked good and appear ready to take on all-comers, as Del Oro is the returning section champs and Woodcreek has had a very good team the first two years of the sport. Against Folsom on Thursday, though, Granite Bay didn't need to be at their best, as the Bulldogs are struggling with an 0-8 record and having only scored 49 points and allowed 307 in those eight games. The first Folsom possession ended with a punt before Rebecca Wilson scored on a 21-yard touchdown run. The next five Folsom possessions ended with interceptions by the Grizzlies, as Anna Craven, Wilson, IuLani James, and Hallie Tapuosi (two) had picks. In the middle of those interceptions, Granite Bay got its second score on a four-yard run by Wilson. After the fifth interception, the Grizzlies scored again pass from Paige Smith to Maddie Benedyuk and the Grizzlies were up 20-0 Leann McElroy then scored on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Smith and Smith connected with Benedyuk for the extra point, as the Grizzlies led 27-0 at halftime. Granite Bay scored twice more in the second half; another Smith-to-Benedyuk score with Avery Harris catching the conversion and the last touchdown came on a run by Olivia Ranoa. "Our culture is 10 out of 10 good," Granite Bay coach Jason Arnold said. "The girls and happy and enthused to be here, and we're optimistic on how the season will go. "Our defense is really tough. Our offense is catching up, but our defense is really tough. I thought Alyssa Poehlman, Becca Wilson and Hallie Tapuosi all played great tonight and helped to get us off to a hot start." Folsom's highlights included a couple nice runs and catches by freshman Jazelle Reed Johnson, who proved to be shifty and fast and it was hard to pull her flag. Folsom junior Dhiya Raghuraman also had an interception for the Bulldogs. While the Bulldogs play host to Del Oro on Tuesday, Granite Bay will host Whitney.