Grace Academy Griffins Survive Shootout, Outlast Centex Tigers 64-34

GEORGETOWN, Texas — In a game that felt more like a track meet than six-man football, the Grace Academy Griffins leaned on Junior running back Elijah Heilig and a bend-but-don’t-break defense to pull away from a stubborn Centex Tigers squad, 64-34, on Thursday night.

Heilig was once again unstoppable, bulldozing his way to 199 yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries — including a back-breaking 54-yard sprint in the third quarter that pushed the Griffin lead to 48-22. The sophomore workhorse now has 20 rushing touchdowns through six games this season.“Elijah just keeps getting stronger as the game goes on,” head coach Golemon said. “Twenty-eight carries is a lot, but he made them count.”

The Tigers refused to go quietly, answering almost every Grace score and piling up 324 total yards and 15 first downs. Centex threw for 142 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 182 more, keeping the outcome in doubt well into the second half. But every time the Tigers crept closer, Grace had an answer — often from somewhere other than the offense.

Junior captain Samuel Moore returned a kickoff 45 yards for a touchdown, quarterback Bridger Maxwell sealed the game with a 34-yard pick-six, and the Griffin defense forced three turnovers overall.Maxwell himself had a quiet but efficient night through the air (2-4, 49 yards, 1 TD) while adding key first downs on the ground when the Tigers sold out to stop Heilig.

Defensive Standouts

• Samuel Moore: 17 total tackles, 1 TFL, 45-yd KOR TD

• Bridger Maxwell: 13 tackles, 2 INT (one returned 34 yds for TD)

• Team: 3 takeaways, held Centex to 2-9 on third down

Key Stats

• Elijah Heilig: 28 carries, 199 yards,-catalyzed 5 TD

• Grace rushing: 235 yards, 5 TD

• Total offense: Grace 284, Centex 324

• Combined points: 98 — highest-scoring game in the series

The victory improves Grace Academy to 4-2 on the season and keeps the Griffins firmly in the TAIAO Division III playoff hunt. With three district games remaining, a healthy and punishing Heilig-led attack looks poised to carry Grace deep into November.

Next week: a critical road trip that could all but lock up a postseason berth. If Thursday night taught us anything, it’s that when this Griffin team smells the end zone — from anywhere on the field — they usually find it.

Final: Grace Academy Griffins 64, Centex Tigers 34