Grant gains another PIL 6A title

Acker runs, passes Generals to 31-21 triumph over Lincoln

By Stephen Alexander

The Portland Tribune, Nov 7, 2009, Updated Nov 7, 2009

L.E. BASKOW / THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Grant quarterback Kenneth Acker eludes a Lincoln defender in the Generals' 31-21 victory on Friday.

Kenneth Acker rushed for 126 yards and passed for 123 Friday night to lead highly-ranked Grant to a 31-21 victory over a gutsy Lincoln team.

With the victory, Grant earned the PIL 6A championship.

            Lincoln came into the game 6-3 overall and 3-0 in the PIL. Grant was 8-1, 3-0. It was the third time in four years the teams have met to determine the league championship. The Generals claimed the rivalry and the crown in 2006 and 2007 (with Lincoln third). The Cardinals won in 2008.

            “There’s an added intensity (to this game) that’s inherent,” Lincoln co-coach Adam Grimes said before the game. “It’s built-in, just because of the stakes.”

            Although the game was played at Lincoln, Grant was the official home team. The night started with the Generals' senior football players and cheerleaders coming onto the track with their parents. Then the Grant and Lincoln bands joined for a 100-plus student ensemble of the national anthem.

            The Cardinals’ and Generals’ defenses played each other to a 0-0 draw through the first quarter. Byron Brown, a Grant junior defensive back, picked off a pass on Grant’s 49-yard line as the quarter ended.

Acker and junior running back Trevionte Riley began the second quarter running the ball at will. The Generals scored on a two-yard touchdown run up the middle by Riley.

The Generals got the ball back with 1:41 remaining in the second period. Instead of going in at halftime up by a touchdown, they attacked. Acker went 48 yards on a quarterback draw. As time expired, Chris Edmonds hit a 32-yard field goal, putting Grant up 10-0.

During halftime, Lincoln’s quarterback coach, Collin Beeson, said the Cardinals saw coverage from Grant that could be taken advantage of by quarterback Henry Furman.

Furman threw for 185 yards in the second half. He finished the night with 268 yards passing and one touchdown. Furman also ran for two touchdowns.

Furman and the rest of the Cardinals played their hearts out all night, and especially in the second half.

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