SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – After a handful of tough seasons, it’s safe to say that the Grant High School varsity football team is back.

The No. 3 seed Pacers (8-2) dominated No. 11 ranked Yuba City, 64-28, on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Division III CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs.

The Honkers (5-7) advanced to the second round of the postseason tournament following a 48-6 upset win at No. 6 seed Vista Del Lago in the opening round on November 4. Grant had a first-round bye.

The Pacers started the game very quickly, scoring a 50-yard rushing touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, followed by a successful two-point conversion, to take an 8-0 lead only 41 seconds into the game. Grant added to its lead midway through the first quarter with a punt return touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

Yuba City scored its first points of the night via the run, ground and pounding its way to six points plus a successful extra point kick. The Pacers led 14-7 after the first 12 minutes of action. The Honkers trimmed their deficit to four with a field goal that was set up by an interception.

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Grant went back up double digits with another rushing touchdown almost three minutes into the second period. The score was set up by a 45-yard bomb that got the Pacers into Yuba City territory. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed. Grant added two more passing touchdowns in the second quarter to increase its lead.

Seniors, quarterback Joseph McCray and wide receiver Kyrell Goss-Pruitt, connected on a 50-yard touchdown for one of the scores. The duo set up the next score as well with a long reception to reach Yuba City’s side of the field.

The Honkers kicked another field goal with less than a minute to go in the first half. The Pacers led 34-13 at halftime. Yuba City began the second half with a touchdown to cut their deficit back to a two-score game as senior offensive lineman Kyrie Cade barreled seven yards into the end zone.

Grant continued to pour it on for the remainder of the quarter, scoring 24 unanswered points. Running back Semaj Mafu-Hart scored the first of what would be three straight touchdowns for the Pacers. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound junior scored a 60-yard rushing touchdown. Grant successfully rushed in the two-point try.

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Senior Denarie Merritt scored the Pacers’ next touchdown on the ground from seven yards out and converted the two-point conversion via the run. McCray then connected with junior wideout Kingston Lopa for a three-yard touchdown pass. Once again, Grant rushed in the two-point conversion. The Pacers led 58-20 after three quarters.

The Honkers scored their final touchdown of the night when junior quarterback Dhiraj Atwal completed a 35-yard pass to senior running back Brandon Sanders for the score. Cade rushed in the two-point attempt successfully with 10:51 remaining. Grant scored the final points of the night on a pick six but failed the two-point attempt with a minute left.

The Pacers ultimately won 64-28, subsequently ending Yuba City’s season. Grant will travel for the D3 semifinals to No. 2 seed Patterson with kickoff on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Sixteen out of 49 Honkers will be graduating in the Class of 2023, including starting quarterback Nick Afato.