Grace Academy Griffins Fall Short in Thriller Against Undefeated Division II WILCO Falcons, 58-47

GEORGETOWN, Texas — Shorthanded but never short on heart, the Grace Academy Griffins gave the undefeated Division II powerhouse WILCO Falcons everything they could handle Thursday night, ultimately falling 58-47 in a high-flying shootout that saw 105 combined points.

Playing without star junior running back Elijah Heilig (ankle injury) and versatile senior Cole Campbell (elbow), Grace leaned heavily on freshman Nathan Washington, who delivered a career performance with 24 carries for 153 yards and five rushing touchdowns —that kept the Griffins in contention until the final minutes.

“We knew coming in this was a huge challenge against an unbeaten D-II team,” head coach Golemon said postgame. “Without Elijah and Cole, we asked a lot of guys to step up, and they did. Nathan was phenomenal — he carried us on his back.”

The Falcons, boasting one of the state's most potent passing attacks, aired it out for 450 yards and eight touchdowns on just 14 completions, including bombs of 75, 65, 62, and 50 yards. WILCO's negative rushing total (-12 yards) was a testament to Grace's defensive front, but the big plays through the air proved too much to overcome.

Grace's comeback bid peaked in the fourth quarter, where they scored 31 points — including Washington's three short-yardage plunges and a 35-yard scamper by quarterback Bridger Maxwell — to cut a 35-point deficit to just 11 late.

Maxwell finished 4-of-13 for 93 yards with one interception but added 52 rushing yards and a touchdown. Junior captain Samuel Moore was a force on both sides, leading the team with 9 total tackles, three sacks, three tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery while hauling in two catches for 60 yards.

The loss drops Grace Academy to 4-3 on the season but does little to dampen spirits ahead of a return to Division III play. Facing a higher-division foe without two starters, the Griffins' 300 total yards and 47 points scored highlight a resilient squad capable of big things down the stretch.

Key Stats

• Nathan Washington: 24 carries, 153 yards, 5 TD (long 46)

• Bridger Maxwell: 4-13, 93 pass yds; 52 rush yds, 1 TD

• Samuel Moore: 2 rec, 60 yds; 9 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, 1 FR

• Team rushing: 207 yards, 6 TD

• WILCO passing: 14-23, 450 yds, 8 TD

• Turnovers: Both teams 2

Next up for the Griffins: a pivotal district matchup that could solidify their playoff positioning. If Washington's breakout and the team's fourth-quarter fire are any indication, Grace is far from done fighting.

Final: WILCO Falcons 58, Grace Academy Griffins 47