Sandies Ice Frost, 64-6

Grapeland Evens Record at 2-2

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

ATHENS – The Grapeland Sandies were looking to bounce back after their debacle against Buffalo the previous week as they took to the road for a game against the Frost Polar Bears. The Sandies came into the contest with a 1-2 mark after dropping back-to-back games while Frost, on the other hand, was a perfect 3-0 on the young season and hoped to continue their winning ways on a neutral field in Athens.

On paper at least, it looked as if the Polar Bears had an inside track to move to 4-0. But – that’s why they play the game. Grapeland was clicking on all cylinders last Friday night as they dismantled and destroyed Frost by a final score of 64-6.

The Sandies drew first blood as they opened the game with possession and capped it off with an 11-yard TD run from Brayden Cheatham.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Sandies attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Frost at the midfield stripe. The Polar Bears offense showed they were up to the challenge on their first possession as they drove inside the Grapeland red zone and scored on Brandon Folmar’s quarterback keeper from 11 yards out to tie the score at six.

When the Polar Bears kicked off, the game changed. Tyrin Wylie fielded a short kickoff at his own 38 yard line, worked his way from sideline to sideline, broke a few tackles along the way and then found clear sailing for a 62-yard TD.

The kickoff return for a touchdown seemed to send the Polar Bears into hibernation and to wake up both the Sandie offense and defense.

First the defense stepped up and forced Frost to punt the next time they had the ball. It didn’t take the Sandies very long to capitalize on their opportunity as Rick Frauenberger connected on a 43 yard bomb to BJ Howard to extend the Grapeland lead to 18-6 as the first quarter came to an end.

As the second quarter got underway, it looked like the Sandies were the team that 3-0 and Frost looked like they were a 1-2 team. Grapeland flat out dominated the second period of play as they added 20 to their total and shut out the Polar Bears.

The Sandies first TD of the second quarter came with 8:37 remaining in the half as Frauenberger kept it and scored from three yards out. Josh Ackley converted the try for two and pushed the Sandie lead to 26-6.

Four minutes later it was the Frauenberger and Ackley show once again as Frauenberger teamed up with Ackley for a 21 yard receiving TD.

Three minutes later, Brannon Bedre got in on the act as he plowed his way across the goal line from 20 yards out to end the first half scoring with Grapeland ahead by a score of 38-6.

The third quarter wasn’t any better for Frost as Grapeland put up another 20 spot on the Polar Bears while holding them out of the end zone.

Ackley got the Grapeland offense going with his second touchdown of the night as he found a seam in the Frost “D” and took the ball in from 11 yards out at the 9:28 mark of the third.

Bedre also scored his second touchdown of the game as he found the end zone after a 14 yard run. After Frauenberger was able to sneak into the end zone on the two point conversion attempt, the Sandies had opened up a 52-6 lead with 4:30 left in the third.

Grapeland wasn’t finished lighting up the scoreboard as Howard was able to find the end zone from 32 yards out to end the third quarter scoring with Grapeland ahead 58-6.

The Sandies added a late fourth quarter touchdown on a 27 yard run from Javacia Shepherd and hen played ball control offense to whittle away the clock and salt away the 64-6 win.

Grapeland will stay on the road – after a bye this week – as they travel to Maud to take on the Maud Cardinals in a non-district contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m on Oct. 6.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].