Wolverines Dominate Hamilton Braves in First Game Since 2019

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The last time the Biggs Wolverines varsity football team took the field under the lights on a Friday night was November 22, 2019. It was a playoff loss to Los Molinos High School to end the season that still resonates with the team. Almost sixteen months later, the Wolverines got their shot back on the gridiron in a dominant victory against the Hamilton High School Braves.

Friday, March 12, 2021, felt like normal fall football weather in Northern California. In the cold of the night, Wolverine families packed the stands at Hamilton High School relieved to be cheering their beloved football team on after such a long hiatus. Senior quarterback and team captain, Gregg Slusser, couldn’t have been more excited to be back out there on the field with his team. “I was just excited right when we got here. I was ready for the JV game to end,” said Slusser. Looking poised from the get-go, Slusser commanded the offense under center.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Wolverines got to work on the legs of senior running back, Shavon Gramps-green. After driving down the field, an unfortunate fumble from Gramps-Green turned the ball over to the Braves inside Hamilton’s 30 yard-line. A quick 3-and-out put the ball back into the hands of Gramps-Green who returned the punt for 60 yards. Scoring the first touchdown of the season, Gramps-Green put the Wolverines on the board with a touchdown run, followed up with the 2-point conversion by junior fullback, Camren Jackson, to take the 8-0 lead.  Gramps-Green saw the endzone two more times in the second quarter on a 40-yard dash up the left sideline and a 3-yard scamper to increase the Wolverine lead.

New addition to the Wolverine offensive powerhouse, Parker Finley, from Etna High School, caught a Slusser pass for 33 yards right before halftime to take a 44-8. With Etna High School choosing not to have a football season this school year, Finley wanted to get back on the field one last time during his senior season. An impressive outing in his first game with the Wolverines, Finley carried the ball nine times for 123 yards on the ground, with one reception for a touchdown. Biggs varsity coach, Tyler Rutledge, had great things to say about Finley in his first showing with the team. “He’s been a great addition from Etna. He’s a very fast and physical player, and a great compliment to Shavon. Both running backs are hard hitting and fast.”

In the second half, Gramps-green and Finley got back to work for the Wolverines. Gramps-green broke what appeared to be a short gain for the first down on 4th-and-3 for a 58-yard run again down the left sideline for the score. Later in the third quarter, Jackson punched one up the middle for the touchdown to put the Wolverines up 44-8. In the fourth quarter, Biggs running back, Jacob Hartley, got in on the scoring action with a 17-yard power run to put the score away 51-8 for the Wolverine victory. Senior extra point kicker, Cali Navarro, went a perfect 5-for-5 in PATs for the Wolverines. 

After an electric performance, Gramps-Green’s energy was still felt during a post-game interview. When asked how he felt, Gramps-Green said with excitement, “I’m feeling great. At first I was kinda rusty, a little shaky, I fumbled in the first half, and that was kinda unfortunate, but my team just kept telling me, ‘let’s go, it’s alright, only one mess up’, and then we just came back and did what we usually do.” And he did. After that fumble, Gramps-Green finished the game with 11 carries for 151 yards and 4 touchdowns. Finley finished with 9 carries for 123 yards and Jackson got in the mix with 11 carries for 45 yards and one touchdown. Coach Rutledge feels good about putting the ball in the hands of any of the running backs on his team. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Daniel Santillan finished the game with 12 tackles, Casen Jackson finished with 11 tackles, Sean Castillo had 9 tackles, and Camren Jackson had 8 tackles. 

When asked how it felt to be back on the field, Rutledge said, “It felt great. It felt like game one in August. Seeing the parents on the side and the excitement from the kids, it was pretty surreal.” The Wolverines have a six game season planned each week until April 16, 2021, with the remainder of the games scheduled at home. With CIF eliminating playoffs and championships this season, the Wolverines’ goal is to send the seniors out with a winning season.