The Rio Linda Knights -were- scheduled to play the Placer Hillmen, for their home opener on Friday night, March 26th. Due to a positive COVID-19 among the Placer team or staff and the resulting 10-day quarantine policy, that game could not happen.
For a time, the Knights did not have an opponent for this past week. Due to other COVID-induced scheduling changes, the opportunity opened up for the Knights to Travel to Galt on Saturday morning and even though it wasn’t a home game, it was an opportunity to play a football game last week.
Both teams came into this game more evenly matched and looking to right the ship. The Galt Warriors had lost their opener to Bradshaw Christian 41-6, whereas the Knights had lost their opener to Ponderosa in a difficult 56-0 shellacking.
The Knights got off to a fast start in this one, when QB Isaac Nagy kept the ball on an option play, running 50 yards from the 50 yard line, only to be stopped at the one. This setup RB Juan Black who punched in a short touchdown at the 10:28 mark of the first quarter. After the PAT by Jorge Rubio, the Knights were on top early, 7-0.
The Galt Warriors came back to score later in the first quarter on a 4th and 5 pass into the endzone. The Warriors added a 2-pt conversion to make the score 8-7 in Galt’s favor with 2:47 to play in the first.
That score would hold through the 2nd quarter, and Galt would go into halftime with a 1pt lead.
The Knights defense shored up in the second half and Galt would not score again.
In the third quarter, a 3rd and Goal play from the 3-yard line yielded a Knights touchdown when Sophomore Anthony Grahn rode a scrum right up the middle for a score. The Knights would score on a 2-pt conversion, making the score 15-8 Knights with 5:40 to play in the third.
Late in the third, RB Juan Black would score again for the Knights, however the PAT was missed.
The final score was Knights 21, Warriors 8.
Barring any COVID alterations to the schedule, the Knights travel to Lincoln on Friday night, April 2nd, to meet the #10 ranked Fighting Zebras. Lincoln comes into this game with a 2-0 record, having beaten Placer and Ponderosa.
The Knights will then face Oakmont and Foothill, both at home, to close out the COVID shortened season on 4/9 and 4/16.
