We’re back Grant Nation! As we wind down the final week before Winter break we’ve got another installment of our Skill Series videos. This time around we are featuring dual-threat quarterback Demarques Singleton. Demarques had a standout season earning honorable mention All-PIL and put himself on many recruiters radar’s over the final 6 weeks of the season. Look for this talented sophomore to be making noise throughout the offseason. Share the video and make sure to follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on Grant High football throughout the holiday season and Go Generals!
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Grant Football: 2015 Season Highlight Video
Happy holidays Grant Nation! These last few weeks of football around the state have been exciting to say the least, and we’re left with what many thought were the top teams in Oregon way back in August at the beginning of the season. We’ll be at the semifinals this Saturday, but for now we’ve got an early holiday gift for you with our season highlight video. It was a privilege to be able to work with the team this season. Having a camera in your face isn’t easy for anyone and the team was awesome in allowing me to cover them all season so I’d like to personally thank them.
Watch the video, share it through Twitter or Facebook for everyone to see, and stay tuned throughout the off-season for coverage of Grant Football. Enjoy and as always: Go Generals!
2015 Grant Generals Preview
We’re back Grant Nation. It’s the beginning of a new season in Northeast Portland, and as the calendar hits mid-August the talk surrounding Oregon High School football begins to ramp up. Waiting for the first game can become an arduous process, which is where we step in. We’ll be here to give an inside look at the General’s preseason camp leading up to their opening game against Lakeridge on September 4th.
Over the summer there’s been some transition within the Grant program as new head coach Randy Heath takes over after Diallo Lewis stepped down following a successful decade-long run. That along with the graduation of several key players from last year’s team will provide for an uphill battle for the boys on 33rd. If the Generals can announce their presence among the state’s upper-tier of teams with a strong non-league performance, it will set them up well for a successful season and possible deep playoff run in the world of power rankings and strength of schedule that we live in. With that, let’s take a look at this year’s version of the Generals on both sides of the ball.
Offense:
System: Spread
Returning starters: 2
2014 points/game: 28.1
Graduating several seniors including five all-league performers means this year’s offense will future numerous new faces and the challenge of learning a new offense under coordinator Dom Ferraro.
Leading the Generals at quarterback will be a two horse race between Sophomore Demarcus Singleton and Senior Luke Davis, the younger brother of last year’s signal caller Sam Davis. At running back, junior Grant Ewell will look to step in for 2014 PIL offensive player of the year Mike Waters. The strength of the offense lays in the trenches, with returning starters Rees Rosene and first-team PIL tackle Juwan Curtis anchoring an offensive line that will need to prove itself early and often in the 2015 season.
Defense:
System: 3-3-5/multiple
Returning starters: 1
2014 points/game allowed: 20.5
The General’s defense proved to be a staple of the team’s strength after overcoming a pair of dismal early performances in 2014. The lone returning starter is Davis at safety, where he was first team all-league last season. Both Curtis and Rosene will be joining Davis on the defensive side of the ball, and will look to get additional help from the likes of seniors Malik Griffin and Lucious Hicks at linebacker, as well as juniors Dee Wallace and Marquis Isom on the back end of the defense.
2015 looks to be a promising one for the Generals, but only if the team continues to mature on the field. That’s all for today General’s Army, be sure to stay tuned for more coverage throughout fall camp.
Go Generals!
The Local Bite: Cleveland Week
Wow, what a week last week! The Generals got the win in convincing style, and there was multiple huge upsets among the college ranks.
This week your Generals will be traveling over to 26th Ave. to take on the Cleveland Warriors. Personally, I’m excited for this game because Cleveland’s stadium is one of my favorites in the PIL. The addition of turf will only improve the ambiance for this week. Couple that with the amazing array of food options in Southeast Portland, and you’ve got the recipe for a great beginning of a long weekend.
A 7 o’clock kickoff means there will be plenty of time for you and your friends or family to grab some grub before the game. Remember though, that this game is on Thursday night since Friday is a school in-service day. This week we’ve got three great restaurants for you to check out, all within ten minutes of the stadium.
Shut Up & Eat Sandwich Shop:
If you’re looking a a great sub, there aren’t many better options than Shut Up & Eat. Reasonably priced sandwiches and some amazing side dishes (macaroni salad, butternut squash, etc.) make this an excellent option for anyone. Make sure to check this establishment out before kickoff as they close at 8:00 PM on Thursdays.
Menu:
Shut Up & Eat Menu
Hours:
9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Location:
3848 SE Glisan Street
Little Big Burger:
Sliders, fries, sodas, and floats, what more could you ask for in quick and delicious food? Several different options for your burger (lettuce wrap, goat cheese, and a secret menu) and quick service make this place a popular attraction to many in the area. Out of the three restaurants, this place offers the most flexibility in terms of time as it is open late each night.
Menu:
Little Big Burger Menu
Hours:
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Location:
3704 SW Bond Ave
Tennessee Red’s:
If BBQ is your meal of choice, you have to check this place out. Several different specials for each day of the week, and a great atmosphere for both family and friends. Make sure to check this place out after the game to watch highlights of the day’s sports action on their big screen TVs.
Menu:
Tennessee Red’s Menu
Hours:
11:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Location:
2133 SE 11th Ave
Generals Make Statement, Crush Cards 37-7
Potential.
That was the word on many people’s mind after watching the Grant Generals throttle Lincoln at the Grant Bowl on Friday afternoon.
This year’s Generals had the potential to win during the week leading up to this game according to many coaches and news outlets around the area. Most had Lincoln as a slight favorite, but Grant silenced many of their critics, and did so in emphatic style.
After a fumble by running back Mike Waters on their first possession, Grant’s defense showed its own potential in quickly getting their first turnover just three plays later on a Da’Marea Stigler interception.
After the turnover, the east-side boys wasted no time getting their offense on a roll. Quarterback Sam Davis hit Stigler for 31 yards on a screen pass. Waters capped the drive with a touchdown from five yards out to go up 7-0.
The defense continued to dominate as Grant stopped Lincoln in the redzone, turning another stop into points from Waters, this time getting a 49-yard gallop to go up 14-0 with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
On the next drive, senior quarterback Sam Davis got the job done through the air, finding Eli Willman for a 21-0 lead. Davis (13-15, 209 yards, 2 TD) was near perfect through the air, which prevented the Cards from stacking the box and opened up the opportunity for Waters to create with his feet all afternoon.
Contributing on the receiving end was senior Chris Lewis (6 catches, 80 yards), Eli Willman (3 for 47, TD), and 4 others with at least one catch.
Another Waters touchdown, this time from thirty-five yards out, seemed to all but ice the game before the first half was over.
Sam Davis’ first rushing touchdown of the year was from two yards out and put the Generals ahead 34-0 to open the second half. With star running back John Duffy sidelined from an ankle injury in the first half, Lincoln seemed content to continue to run the ball, essentially trying to get out of the Grant Bowl as fast as they could.
Kicker Joey Kenney converted a 42-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter, making the score 37-0 and taking Lincoln further into their own nightmare. The lone bright spot for the Cardinal came on the ensuing kickoff, as Michael Angyus took it 88 yards for the only Lincoln points on the day.
With the win, Grant improved to 3-2 (3-0) on the year, and Lincoln dropped to 2-3 (1-1) with the loss.
Potential. People came into the afternoon giving the Generals a slim chance at winning. They left, however, thinking this team could potentially win the PIL, and possibly steal a
home playoff game come November.
But first things first, this Grant team will visit Cleveland High School this Thursday, kickoff set for 7 PM.
Grant Runs and Hides: Topple Trojans 38-12
Lights out.
That was the thought racing through many spectators mind’s as the Grant Generals seemed to pick apart the Trojans of Wilson High School in the first half last Friday night. It also may have been the thought on the brains of the hosting Trojans all night after their first offensive possession as the Generals delivered several hard hits to start the game.
After forcing a Wilson punt, quarterback Sam Davis lead the offense down the field and handed off to senior Mike Waters who took it 33 yards to open the scoring with 6:54 left in the first quarter.
The defense forced another Wilson punt, but Grant’s offense put itself in a hole by committing back-to-back penalties on what would have been 3rd down conversions. Davis dug the Generals out on try number three however, as he delivered what could only be described as a “perfect ball” to senior receiver Chris Lewis for an 80-yard touchdown to close out the first quarter.
The Local Bite: Lincoln Week
Well it’s that time of year again Grant nation. It’s time to play the boys from Lincoln. While I am new to the Grant vs Lincoln rivalry, I have my own distain for the Cardinals, which has me a little more amped up than normal.
From what I have heard over the last couple of days, this is a rivalry with no love lost between the teams. It should make for an amazing game as the Cards visit the Grant Bowl for the first time ever.
Speaking of the Grant Bowl, what an amazing place to watch a football game. The neighborhood setting, the enclosed field, and the surrounding attractions make it a special place to watch a football game. If you can look beyond the early start times and see it for what it is; the kick-off for varsity high school football each weekend in Oregon, then seeing a game here can be truly special.
Being that this is an early evening start (4:00 PM), getting a meal before the game will be challenging, but the proximity of the stadium to the Hollywood District downtown means you can get delicious food and still be at the game in time to see all of the action.
This week we’re bringing you three of our favorite options that will leave you satisfied, but also wanting to plan a return trip before the next home game.
The Blind Onion Pizza & Pub:
Located less than a block from the Bowl, this small pizza shop makes fresh hand-crafted pizzas each day, and offers 3 different sizes depending on your group size. The fast service enables patrons to take their order to go, which is beneficial for those who are in a hurry to catch the game. For those who are more of the night owl type, this is still a viable option as it is open until 11:00 PM each Friday and Saturday and has a bar with a flatscreen tv where you can watch highlights from around the state each Friday night.
Menu:
Blind Onion Menu
Hours:
11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Location:
3345 NE Broadway Street
Atomic Pizza:
Another pizza joint, and further from the stadium, but some of the best pizza in town to go along with the option of getting a sandwich or dessert. The name isn’t a play on words, as the pizza can be on the spicy side, so be warned. A popular hang out for players after games, it’s best if you try to get your slice before or on the way to the game.
Hours:
11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Location:
4144 NE Sandy Boulevard
Killer Burger:
Just as you might think when reading the name of the restaurant, these burgers are to die for. The atmosphere is great with excellent service to match. Make sure that you look thoroughly at the menu to avoid allergic reactions as there are some unique ingredients on each burger. Located within 10 minutes of the Grant Bowl, this is an excellent spot to get a great bite to eat before the game.
Hours:
11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Location:
4644 NE Sandy Boulevard
That’s it for this week’s segment of “The Local Bite,” make sure to check back each week for great places to eat near the Generals next game. As always: GO GENERALS!
Grant dominates Benson in 59-19 rout: Recap
It didn’t take long for Grant to put the rest of the PIL on high alert Friday night, as they dominated all three phases of the game en route to a convincing 59-19 victory over Benson.
The Generals got another stellar performance from senior running back Michael Waters (three rushing touchdowns, two more on defense), a suffocating defensive performance, and used both to race out to a 52-0 halftime lead which proved insurmountable for the Techmen.
After getting a quick three-and-out to start the game, Waters put the Generals on the scoreboard by taking a toss play around the left end for a seven yard touchdown, the first of a flurry of big plays for the boys from Grant Park.
Four plays later, Waters found the end zone again as he scooped up a Benson fumble and returned it 21 yards to make the score 14-0 Grant before anyone had even blinked. From there, the Generals never looked back and it got ugly quick.
After the first of two interceptions thrown by Benson quarterback Robert Coleman, Davis hit senior receiver Chris Lewis for a 40 yard touchdown to make it 21-0.
Another quick turnover gave Grant the ball inside Techmen territory and Waters capitalized by scoring from ten yards out to make 28-0.
After two more scoring drives, Waters finished off his night with a 77 yard pick-six to put any hope Benson had of making the contest competitive to rest.
“We were extremely focused coming into this game after what had happened the last two weeks, we really wanted to start off league the right way,” said senior quarterback Sam Davis, who went 5 of 11 for 114 yards with two touchdowns before being pulled at halftime with the game already wrapped up. Davis, who said the Generals “let the rest of the league know that we’re going to be a tough match-up all year,” was poised and in control all night. Had it not been for a couple untimely dropped passes, the General’s signal caller could very well have helped Grant make the score even more lop-sided.
The Grant defense also flexed its collective muscles at times on Friday night, harassing Benson’s offense throughout the game forcing six turnovers and scoring two defensive touchdowns.
Sophomore linebacker Daniel Green led the way with eight tackles, while also intercepting quarterback Robert Coleman twice.
“It’s nice to be on the other side of one of these games,” said Green, who looked like a man possessed at times, showing why many think of him as a possible D1 talent already.
After halftime, both teams were content to run the ball and milk the clock with the outcome already decided. A meaningless touchdown run by Coleman cut Grant’s lead to 59-19 as time expired.
Next up for the Generals is a tough road match-up with Wilson, who dismantled Franklin last week and is looking to make a name for themselves among the PIL elite.
We will be there to cover the game and bring you an in-depth look at what could be the Game of the Week.
Game 3 Preview: Grant (0-2) @ Benson (0-2)
When: Friday, September 19th, 7 PM
Where: Marshall High School
Grant Game Coverage
It’s week 3 of the season for the Grant Generals, which means we all get the chance to see a new look PIL and the renewal of an old-time rivalry game featuring teams with contrasting styles between their programs. Grant is coming off of a disappointing non-league performance, but is focused on the second part of their season with the start of league play this week.
Coming into the 2014 PIL season, many questions about the Generals depth and size have been asked, but early season predictions still have them as a front runner to contend for a 25th PIL title. The Generals feature three or four kids with the potential to play football at the next level, and the sooner they start playing like the highly touted prospects they are, the faster this team will be firing on all cylinders.
Before we can seriously start talking about a league title however, the focus must be on this week’s opponent, Benson. Coach Anthony Stoudamire has faced an uphill battle since taking over the program in 2012, and it doesn’t seem like there’s any relief in sight for the coach who’s gone 3-26 in his time calling the shots for the Techmen. Benson is looking to rebound after being thumped twice in the preseason by Lincoln High of Washington and Scapoose. The Techman are hoping a little home field advantage will help them with a visit from the Generals looming.
On offense, the Techmen are a traditional pro-set team that likes to run the ball to control the clock. While they aren’t particularly strong up front, they do have a talented running back in Nathan Houston-Poe that will outrun a defense that isn’t disciplined in technique and assignment football. Also standouts for Benson are wide receivers Anthony Ross and Noah Terry that can make people miss in the open field and turn short pass plays into big chunks of yards.
On the other side of the ball, Benson likes to line up in a 3-4 and blitz A LOT. It seems that on every play a different 5 or 6 guys are trying to get after the quarterback. However this does mean that there will be a lot of one-on-one match ups to exploit for General’s senior quarterback Sam Davis. If last week’s strong second half against a stout defense like Sherwood is any indication, Davis should have a pretty easy time lighting up the scoreboard against the subpar Techman defense that has given up 52 points a game so far this year.
For Benson, beating Grant in what is technically a home game (being played at Marshall High School) would be the type of victory needed to turn around a struggling program, and if the Generals don’t dominate from the start, things could get interested as the night goes on. It will be a fun Friday night to kick off the rebirth of the PIL.
Grant Keys to Victory:
Show up ready to play:
The last two weeks have been similar story lines for Grant. They have come out and appeared unfocused and confused on their assignments at times, which has lead to early holes that they can’t climb out of. In order to avoid falling behind early and having to play catch up the rest of the game, the team has to dominate from the opening whistle.
Execute Your Assignment:
There is a saying painted on the locker room wall of my former college football team that reads: “No “S” on the chest.” This means that nobody on the team has to be Superman and make every play, as usually when this happens it results in blown assignments and explosive, game-changing plays for the opponent. If the Generals can focus solely on executing their assignment on every play, the rest will take care of itself.
Control the line of scrimmage:
The Generals could have a field day with the offensive line of Benson, which should make life pretty miserable for quarterback Robert Coleman and the rest of the Techmen backfield. On the offensive side, all Sam Davis needs is the O-line to give him time to find a one-on-one match up and the Generals will bleed it dry. This will be the most important key of the day as Grant has yet to control the line of scrimmage this season.
Live in the moment:
You’re only guaranteed so many opportunities to play high school football, and every time you step on the field it’s special. Many college and NFL players would tell you they would trade all the fame and money in the world to strap it up on Friday night one more time. So Grant must focus on the here and now, on playing each play as a unit.
Prediction:
Generals +28:
I’m expecting Grant to have some frustration to take out on Benson after being run off the field the last two weeks, and a feeling it won’t be pretty for the Techmen. The resurgence of the PIL has been long awaited, and Grant has a chance to make an emphatic statement by taking care of business on Friday.
What Has Happened to the PIL?
As we prepare to open the 2014 PIL season this week, the Portland-Metro community has several different topics on their minds. Will Roosevelt’s recent
success in 5A translate to wins at Oregon’s highest level of football? Will Benson be able to turn around their dismal 3-26 record over the last three years? Will Grant and Lincoln return to making deep playoff runs as we were accustomed to seeing over the majority of the last decade?
However, one question looms larger after the first two weeks of Oregon high school football; what is going on with the PIL lately?
Take a moment to reminisce on some of the talented high school football stars to come and go from the PIL over the last 15 years.
Names like Conner Kavanaugh, Kenneth Acker, Ndamukong Suh, and Alex Green come to mind. To the close observer, even names such as the Colasurdo brothers, John Sheffield, and Daniel Halverson bring back great memories.
We think of heroic single game performances like Michael Johnson having 17 tackles in Lincoln’s state championship loss to Jesuit, or of Paris Penn shredding defenses for the better part of three seasons.
Amazing battles between Grant and Lincoln with PIL championship implications on the line sear our brains with lasting images. Franticly played playoff games such as Wilson’s 2003 showdown with eventual state champions Tigard and, as previously mentioned, Lincoln’s epic battle with Jesuit for the 2005 state title in what many consider the best championship game in Oregon’s history. This is the PIL that was feared throughout the state at times.
Fast forward to present day and what are we left with? Over the last 5 years the league has shifted from having two teams playing in the quarterfinals in 2009, to only having two actual Portland-based teams in the league in 2011, to now; a league that went 1-17 in non-league play and is desperately trying to stay relevant in what is starting to turn into a high school football hot-bed in the state of Oregon.
Can this poor performance be chalked up to schools scheduling some of the tougher teams in the state? In the cases of Roosevelt and Grant, the answer is yes as both teams have played a top ten team in the first two weeks. If you glance at the rest of the league, the numbers start to look downright embarrassing.
Wilson has scored a combined 7 points against two 5A opponents. Cleveland has been blown out by Century and Aloha, not exactly who comes to mind when thinking of the Metro League elite. On average, PIL defenses have given up 42.3 points a game, while putting up a subpar 14.8 points a game on offense. If you exclude Lincoln, the only team in the league with a win this season, those numbers get even worse on both sides of the ball, at 44.8 and 12.3, respectively.
While it is inevitable that teams such as Lincoln, Grant, and Roosevelt will find their form (and by virtue of having to play other PIL teams, wins) it is self-destructive for these teams to ignore the fact that they are slipping towards the bottom of the state in terms of fielding competitive rosters. If there isn’t a resurgence of popularity in downtown Portland high school football, these numbers will continue to dwindle.
The PIL has some of the most unique and intriguing settings in the entire state to watch a football game, and some up and coming talent to try and change the ways of recent league memory. If these schools are able to combine their community and their teams to grow together, we could be looking at some serious growth in talent and competitiveness among the state’s elite.
Who says a PIL team can’t have sustained success like teams such as Lake Oswego, Sheldon, Jesuit, and Central Catholic? In many cases, it isn’t always the facilities or number of players on a team that results in on field success, but rather the attitude of the team and the community surrounding each school. A never back down, take on all comers approach has been what has hardened these powerhouses into what they are today.
Every school should be taking notes on the way these teams approach a game, how they seem solely focused on making themselves better no matter who their competition is during any given week. It is a fact ladies and gentlemen, that competition breeds excellence, and the sooner the PIL finds this out, the sooner they can return to the glory days of old.
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