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GRANTSVILLE — On a rowdy homecoming night under the lights, the Grantsville Cowboys made a statement, handing the undefeated Ogden Tigers their first loss of the season in a gritty 17-0 win, largely thanks to the leg of kicker Brent Knickerbocker.
The Cowboys came out determined, and were energized by a packed student section and a community that rallied behind their team.
Defensive end Porter Davis set the tone early by recovering a fumble just six minutes into the game, giving Grantsville prime field position on Ogden's 15-yard line. Knickerbocker wasted no time and nailed a field goal to give the Cowboys an early 3-0 lead.
"I was really worried about this game, because I injured my foot yesterday," Knickerbocker said after the game. "But I feel so good that I have my teammates behind me."
Despite the offensive struggles, Knickerbocker kept the Cowboys on top, racking up 15 points off five field goals, each one pushing Ogden further into desperation. His consistency has been impressive all season, with 11 successful field goals and only one miss.
While Knickerbocker's kicking performance dominated the scoreboard, Grantsville's defense stole the show, completely shutting down Ogden's offense. Led by standout performances from players like Jordan Fawson, Peyton Thornton, and Jayden Atkinson, the Cowboys never let the Tigers find their rhythm.
Ogden quarterback Vincent Apodaca faced relentless pressure and struggled to make plays against the Cowboys defense.
"It feels good. We prepared all week real good and had really good practices," said Fawson, who had two interceptions in key moments of the game. "Obviously, we didn't execute on the offensive side very much, but we got it done."
The Tigers, who came into the game riding a perfect season, found themselves down 6-0 after another Knickerbocker field goal in the third quarter.
Ogden's frustrations began to mount as personal fouls from both teams added tension. In one heated moment, Grantsville's Fawson, Traicer Clark, and Ogden's Synic Harvey all received penalties, costing their teams crucial yardage.
Even with flags and missed opportunities wiping out multiple touchdown plays, Grantsville remained composed.
"I mean, it's frustrating, but I know those guys are blocking for me, and I'd rather them get a penalty than not block," Fawson said. "I really appreciate all the guys that blocked me."
By the fourth quarter, Grantsville's defense and Knickerbocker's kicking all but sealed the Tigers' fate. A third interception by Talon Butler in the final moments, followed by another field goal, pushed the lead to 15-0.
To cap off the night, Ogden's final possession ended with a fumbled snap that resulted in a safety, sealing the game at 17-0.
Knickerbocker couldn't have been more thrilled with the result, especially considering his pre-game concerns about an injured foot.
"This just feels so awesome," he said. "The defense did great this game, and we will bring that to next week's game. I think we are going to feel a lot more confident, especially the defense."
Grantsville now looks ahead to a tough road matchup against Morgan next week, with confidence after their dominant performance. Ogden, meanwhile, will regroup and try to rebound from their first loss of the season as they take on Juan Diego.
