A near six hour road trip to take on one of Ohio’s best team’s did not disappoint in terms of quality of game for the Grandville Bulldogs Friday night, the ‘Dawgs fell to Ohio state top-ten ranked Pickerington North in a wild back-and-forth game, 53-51 – as P.N. junior kicker Brayden Fowler hit a last-second 31 yard walk-off field goal as time expired to take a wild win.

 

Grandville allowed a kick-off return to the Panthers Grant Williams and cough pop a fumble in the first half to trail by 2 scores 28-15 at the break – The ‘Dawgs got first half scores from Gavin Love (his first varsity score) and Jayden Terry (his first of FIVE TDs on the evening). Pickerington North immediately scored again to start the second half with a 54 yard strike on the first play of the half from Wisconsin commit Jarin Mock QB to Kentuck commit WR Preston Bowman, to take a three score lead. Grandville was able to get the next two scores in the third (a two yard Ethan New Gille run a 42 yarder from Terry) to make the game 35-29 and only a one-score deficit going to the fourth.

 

The fourth quarter was the Terry and Taylor show, as the all-state Michigan RB Terry dialed with his fellow 3-star recruit RB Michael Taylor (Ohio U commit). First it was Taylor from 41 yards, then Terry from 18. Taylor answered after a long, grinding drive to score his fourth total TD on the night from 7 yards out with 4:01 to go – Pickerington North added a 2 point conversion from Mock to make it a 14 point game.

 

Terry then quickly found the end zone on an improbable weaving run from 27 yards out to cap the next drive with 2:56 to go for his fourth of the night. The Bulldogs then pulled the first of a line of ‘plays of the game’, as they were able to recover an onside kick from senior kicker Jake Keranen and drive down the field – Ending with Terry planning into the end zone for a fifth time with 31 seconds to go. The ‘Dawgs would go for two, and pull a play action pass to wide open GVSU-commit TE Gibby Connely to take an improbable 51-50 lead.

 

But, the night would end in heartbreak for the roadtripping Bulldogs, following a defense pass interference call, the Panthers were able to move the ball down the field. And following. a penalty on his first made attempt, P.N. junior kicker Brayden Fowler nailed a 31 yard field goal as time expired to walk off the Panthers as winners.

Grandville is now 0-1 on the season, and host Davison on MSR next week. Pickerington North sits at 1-1 on the season after the win.

 

Key Stats:

Jayden Terry (Grandville): 5 Rushing TD, 206 yards (25 carries)

Michael Taylor (PN): 4 Rushing TD, 102 yards (13 carries)

D.J. Hardimon (Grandville): 185 yards,17 carries

Jarin Mock (PN): 238 Pass Yards, 1 TD (To Preston Bowman – 107 receiving yards)

Ethan Newville (Grandville): 70 pass yards, 1 Rushing TD