GRIDLEY, CA (YSBC) - The Gridley Bulldogs football made doubters eat their words on Friday, Oct. 10 as they beat the Orland Trojans 29-26 in the opening week of Westside League play.

This was the first time Gridley beat Orland since the 2021 and the Bulldogs set the tone of the game early on.

Gridley junior running back Marcus Duncan scored the first points of the night as he found the end zone for a six-yard touchdown rush that capped off an eight-plus minute opening drive that went 80 yards.

The Bulldogs sideline erupted with a loud roar as the flickering lights signaled a Gridley touchdown to the crowd at the “Boneyard”. 

Gridley junior running back Marcus Duncan (6) rushes the ball during the Bulldogs’ 29-26 victory on Friday, Oct. 10 against Orland. Photo by Steven Bryla

Orland didn’t wait long to respond as Trojans senior quarterback Luke Shager tossed a 49-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Flavio Melgarejo, but still trailed 8-6 after Orland’s two-point attempt was denied.

Shager was effective as he completed six passes for 91 yards in the air and rushed for 149 yards on the ground in the defeat.

The Trojans took the lead halfway through the second quarter as Shager rushed the ball into the end zone from the one, but the Bulldogs quickly took the lead back as Duncan returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and Duncan gave Gridley the lead back 15-12.

Duncan accumulated more than 160 all-purpose yards in the win and expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that the offensive line lays out the ground work for every successful run during practice.

Bulldogs head coach Daniel Zumwalt told YSBC that Duncan has contributed heavily in multiple moments this season and as a big-time rusher, he has great vision on the field.

Gridley junior defensive back Rafael Franco (12) intercepts a pass on Friday, Oct. 10 in the Bulldogs’ 29-26 win against Orland. Photo by Steven Bryla

Gridley took the three-point lead into the half. Orland had the ball to start the second half, but Shager threw an interception to Bulldogs junior defensive back Rafael Franco.

Zumwalt expressed that the defense did a great job all night and it was a team effort. 

He added that three of the starters against the Trojans were not regular starters as they were mixed into those positions throughout the week. 

There were eight Bulldogs that had eight or more tackles in the victory. Gridley senior defensive end Jason Davis Jr. led the game with 14 tackles.

Zumwalt expressed that senior linebacker Saulo Ramirez is the verbal leader of the defense and energizes the team with big hits.

Ramirez had 11 tackles in the win over Orland.

On the Bulldogs only possession of the third quarter, senior quarterback Eli Punzo capped it off with a 53-yard rushing touchdown.

Punzo had 113 rushing yards in the win, but controlled the offensive flow all night for Gridley.

Punzo expressed that the victory against Orland was big in the essence as a lot of people doubted them going into the game and a goal was to prove them wrong.

“Hopefully we turned a lot of heads with this win,” Punzo said.

Punzo added that it was a great win over the Trojans, but they proved to a lot of people that the Bulldogs are ready to take their game to the next level.

Gridley senior linebacker Saulo Ramirez (9) makes a tackle on Friday, Oct. 10 in the Bulldogs’ 29-26 victory over Orland. Photo by Steven Bryla

Shager found the end zone for the second time on the ground just inside of eight minutes remaining in the game and cut the Gridley deficit to three.

As the game clock struck with less than five minutes remaining, Punzo pitched the ball to Duncan on the right side of the field, but Duncan peeled off looking downfield for a receiver.

Duncan tossed a strike down to a streaking senior wide receiver Riley Engleman for a 39-yard touchdown pass and extended the Bulldogs lead back to double digits.

Orland didn’t give up as they answered with a last-minute touchdown in the fourth, but Gridley recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran the clock out for the win.

Punzo and Duncan told YSBC that moving forward they need to stay focused on the common goal of one opponent per week and continue bonding with their teammates at a high level.

Zumwalt said even though this was the first league game, they still have a tough schedule remaining in the final four weeks of the season.

The Bulldogs will hit the road as they are scheduled to play Oroville on Friday Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

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