Gridley senior quarterback Eli Punzo (5) runs the ball on Nov. 14 in the Bulldogs’ 20-10 win against University Prep. Photo by Chris Pedigo

SAN JOSE, CA (YSBC) - The Gridley Bulldogs best season in program history ended on Friday, Dec. 5 as the Lincoln Lions (San Jose) prevailed 28-20 in the CIF 6-AA Nor Cal title game.

Gridley head coach Daniel Zumwalt expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that the send off the Bulldogs received in the early afternoon from their classmates and community members was one that they will never forget.

Zumwalt added that words couldn’t amount to what the experience of that sendoff felt to him as a coach and the boys on the team. 

The Bulldogs couldn’t have asked for a better start as senior quarterback Eli Punzo found senior wide receiver Canon Moore for a long touchdown pass to take an early 7-0 lead. 

Gridley senior quarterback Eli Punzo (5) raises the Northern Section D-III plaque on Nov. 29 in the Bulldogs’ 18-15 victory over Orland. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Lincoln fired back and tied the game with two minutes left in the first as senior running back Lucas Martinez scored on a 22-yard touchdown rush.

Zumwalt expressed multiple times throughout the season that if Gridley was able to hold onto the ball and keep the turnovers down, they’d be in a successful spot to win.

The Bulldogs didn’t win the turnover battle and the Lions took the lead 14-7 inside a minute to go in the first.

As another week had passed, Gridley junior tight end Jace Griggs scored on a long rushing attempt for a touchdown as he scored from the Lincoln 32. 

The point-after-attempt (PAT) struggles continued for the Bulldogs as they missed a crucial one to go up seven half way through the third. 

Gridley junior tight end Jace Griggs (88) breaks away for a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 20-10 win over University Prep on Nov. 14. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Griggs led Gridley with 91 yards rushing and found the end zone twice. Griggsa added his second touchdown of the night when he rushed into the end zone for six yards during the final minute of the first half.

The Gridley defense stuffed the Lions offense as they attempted to convert a fourth-and-short, but were denied and gave the ball off to the Bulldogs. 

Punzo tossed an interception halfway through the fourth quarter inside the red zone and it shifted the momentum and gave Lincoln the push they needed to get back into the swing of things with the home crowd behind them.

Lincoln tied the game at 20 with four minutes to go in the game after there was a 65-yard pass connection and took a single-point lead with a made extra point. 

On the ensuing kickoff, there was a fumble on the kickoff return that gave the ball back to the Lions on short field and they quickly extended their lead on an easy score.

The Bulldogs were driving with time going quickly off the clock and the season came down to three yards needed for a first down.

Gridley junior running back Marcus Duncan (6) rushes the ball during the Bulldogs’ 7-3 victory over Paradise on Sept. 26. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Gridley ran the ball up the middle and it appeared junior running back Marcus Duncan crossed the plane, but was a few inches short as the first-down chain stretched past the ball.

Duncan rushed for 63 yards in the loss and Zumwalt told YSBC that he couldn't be prouder of the boys for everything that they have accomplished this season.

Zumwalt added that the leadership that Punzo created this season and transformed it from the preseason to the final snaps in December was tremendous. 

He said that Punzo was a phenomenal leader this year and left a legacy of being a supportive leader of all of his teammates. Punzo finished with 87 passing yards and 73 yards on the ground in the loss.

As much as it’s expected to hurt for a while, the Bulldogs had their best season in school history. They won their first section title in 36 years and they defeated two teams twice in the same season (Orland and University Prep).

The Bulldogs will take a few weeks. For more updated sports coverage on all local sports, go to ysbcsports.com and subscribe today!