Live Oak senior wide receiver Noah Cuevas (3) scores a touchdown in the Lions 31-12 loss on Friday, November 10 at Gridley. Photo by Chris Pedigo

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Bulldogs moved onto the semifinals of the California Interscholastic Federation Northern Section Division III playoffs as they beat their cross-town rival Live Oak Lions in a 31-12 victory in the opening round on Friday, November 10.

The victory for Gridley was their first playoff win and trip to the NS semifinals since the 2018 season.

The Bulldogs had a commanding 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and instead of saying it was over, Live Oak didn’t give up and made it a game.

Gridley built its commanding lead after junior quarterback Gus Stogsdill scored on an 8-yard touchdown rush to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with a tad over eight minutes left in the first quarter.

On the Lions first offensive play from scrimmage, they fumbled the ball and Gridley senior safety Cesareo Villalobos scooped and scored a 46-yard touchdown off a fumble recovery to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.

Gridley senior safety Cesareo Villalobos (7) intercepts a Live Oak pass in the Gridley 31-12 victory over the Lions on Friday, November 10. Photo by Chris Pedigo

The nightmare continued for Live Oak on the ensuing kickoff as a returner called for a fair catch off the pooch kick by the Bulldogs and it became a live ball as it stayed in bounce and became a live ball after the Lions player didn’t go for the ball, so Gridley recovered and had the ball deep in Live Oak territory.

Stogsdill found sophomore wide receiver Riley Engelmann for a 13-yard touchdown reception to take a 21-0 lead. The Lions were able to eventually get an offensive play off and their defense settled in as well as Bulldogs junior kicker Nolan Weagant added a 37-yard field goal with a little less than nine minutes to go in the first half.

Stogsdill threw a career high 175 yards in the air along with two passing touchdowns.

The Live Oak defense had a great string of shutting down the Gridley offense until the later part of the third quarter.

The Lions scored on the opening drive of the second half when junior quarterback Aaron Rogers found senior wide receiver Noah Cuevas for a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Live Oak head coach Robert Tilton told the Herald turning the ball over was a huge reason in the defeat as the Lions had five turnovers throughout the game.

The game was still in reach for Live Oak with a little over 10 minutes left in the game as sophomore cornerback Ian Miranda recovered a loose ball and scored on a 43-yard fumble recovery touchdown to cut the deficit 31-12 after another failed two-point attempt.

Eventually time ran out and the Bulldogs defense wasn’t willing to give anymore leeway as it was another all-around team effort defensively as the Gridley defense continued to show why it’s one of the premier defenses in the NS.

The Gridley defense was once again successful on stopping the rushing attack of the Lions pair of junior running backs Mario Ramirez and Tanner Tillotson.

Although the Lions season ended, their future looks bright moving into next season. Tilton expressed to the Herald they will bring back a good core and foundation of their team into next year.

Tilton told the Herald instead of rebuilding, they will be growing the program with the building blocks in place like Ramirez, Tillotson and Rogers.

Live Oak will join the Butte View League next year, so the Harvest Bowl will be played later in the second half of the season.

Bulldogs head coach Mike Meyer told the Herald postgame he was proud of his team for getting the win and they need to clean up mistakes, but he’s ready for the next round at Orland tonight.

He added that defensively it’s a true team defense because if a player doesn’t fulfill their job assignment, there will be a gap/hole in the defense.

Stogsdill expressed to the Herald it was special as the first playoff victory for Gridley being at home. He added his family ties included his cousins being on the last Bulldogs playoff victorious team, so it felt good to be a part of that.

Gridley has a date with Orland tonight as they look to avenge their 35-14 loss in the BVL title two weeks ago.

Bulldogs sophomore linebacker/offensive lineman Jason Davis Jr. told the Herald the adjustments include minimizing their mistakes and stuffing the run of the Orland offense.