Grundy County football routs Lookout Valley 42-6

“It feels great to be where we are right now,” Hopkins said. “We put in a lot of work this offseason, and we are still making adjustments, but it’s great to be 2-0 and to see our hard work pay off. It was a great team win.”

Senior running back Colton Rogers got the scoring started in the opening quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run to put the Jackets up 6-0. Hopkins added to the lead one possession later with his first touchdown of the night. The quarterback scored from nine yards out on a third-and-goal keeper to extend the GCHS lead to 12.

Following the defense’s third stop of the game, Hopkins hit a wide-open Dakota Grayson over the middle in the front of the end zone to cap off Grundy’s third offensive drive. Hopkins then toted a 2-point conversion across the line to make it a 20-0 contest at the half.

After forcing a turnover on downs to begin the third period, the Yellow Jackets needed just three plays to find the end zone in the second half. Rogers took a handoff 64 yards to the Lookout Valley 4-yard line, and Hopkins punched it through on the following play. Hopkins’ successful 2-point run made it a 28-point advantage for GCHS early in the third.

Will Foster - wearing a No. 23 jersey rather than his usual No. 9 - caught his first career touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Lined up at tight end, Foster snuck through the Lookout Valley line and turned to snag a quick pass from Hopkins. The senior took it 47 yards to the house, and Grayson nailed the extra point.

Lookout Valley found its way onto the scoreboard in the waning moments of the contest. Freshman running back Dayon Cooper completed a 59-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to pull the score to 35-6, but Lookout Valley’s revelry was short lived.

On the ensuing kickoff, LVHS booted an onside kick to the 50-yard line where it was caught on the fly by Foster. The Grundy senior squeezed past three would-be tacklers to add an exclamation point to the Jackets’ victory. Grayson tacked on the extra point to give the game its final score.

“I don’t think I’ll ever wear 9 again,” Foster laughed following the game. “I’ve never scored a touchdown, so to have two in one night is pretty awesome.”

Foster finished the night with 47 receiving yards, 51 return yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, the senior totaled six tackles, three hurries and three tackles for loss - including two sacks.

Rogers paced the offense with 11 rushing yards on eight carries, and Hopkins followed with 87 yards on 17 attempts.

“It’s great to see our kids playing well and being 2-0 after two weeks,” head coach Nick Bryant said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to mercy rule an opponent, but now we’re looking to be 3-0. We have to stay focused.”

The Yellow Jackets return to Crisp Field on Friday, Sept. 8 to host the Tennessee Heat for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Coalmont.

The Heat - a homeschool program from Nashville - is 2-2 this season. It has wins over Lancaster Christian Academy and Tri-Cities Christian with losses to Lighthouse HomeSchool (Oneonta, Ala.) and Donelson Christian Academy.