Grant Wins First Game Over Winless N. Hollywood

After his team had won its first game of the season Friday by defeating visiting North Hollywood High, 8-7, Grant High Coach Bill Foster could only attribute the win to one thing: “Blocking and tackling.”

Across the field, North Hollywood Coach Fred Neilson appeared as if he had been hit by a block and tackle.

“You want me to cry, I’ll cry,” said Neilson as he watched his 0-4 team straggle forlornly into the locker room.

With less than a minute to play, the Huskies attempted a 24-yard field goal after marching 87 yards. The kick was agonizingly close, but slipped past the right upright, giving Grant (1-3) the Pac 8 League victory. North Hollywood is 0-2 in league.

“That was the first field goal (kicker Pablo Gonzalez) has attempted in his life,” Neilson said.

On the play before the field goal attempt, quarterback Cedric Nelson had swept left end in an unsuccessful bid for a first down, which forced Gonzalez to kick from the left hash mark.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen that way,” Neilson said, rubbing his forehead. “Cedric was supposed to hand off to Pookie Conner up the middle. He kept the ball and I don’t know why.”

Grant erased a 7-0 North Hollywood lead in the third quarter after Marcus St. Julian of the Lancers returned a punt 27 yards to the Huskie 29. After three straight five-yard gains by William Solis, Jay Onga looped a pass to Tony Geltemair for a 14-yard touchdown, making the score 7-6.

Without hesitating, Foster went for a two-point conversion and the victory. Onga faked a hand-off, rolled right and hit tight end Rick Rios, who was standing alone in the end zone.

North Hollywood scored its only points only minutes into the game. After Eddie Velarde blocked a Grant punt, the Huskies needed just three plays to score.

After Mark Stanford ran nine yards and Randy Scarborough went 24, Nelson dove over from one yard out for the touchdown. Gonzalez kicked the extra point.

One might expect two winless teams to make as many turnovers as Sarah Lee. That wasn’t the case. Each team turned the ball over twice in the first half, but for the rest of the game played without a fumble or interception.

Although both teams floundered near midfield for most of the time between touchdowns, North Hollywood outgained Grant in total yardage, 207 to 100. Stanford led all rushers with 48 yards on four carries. Nelson, who broke a bootleg for 41 yards, added 46.

Onga completed six of nine passes for 65 yards. One of his passes was intercepted by Robbie Krumm near the North Hollywood at the end of the first half, ending a drive.