Receiving a home playoff game should not be taken lightly. Golden Valley will be the first team to tell you that.
The Grizzlies return to Canyon on Friday to play Fountain Valley in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 tournament after traveling over 150 miles to play Nipomo in the first round.
“That trip took a lot out of the kids and us as coaches,” said Grizzlies coach Dan Kelley. “We left at 11 a.m. and didn’t get back until after midnight.”
Possibly more important than the home game, though, will be the return of USC commit DeGabriel Floyd. Kelley said Floyd was banged up after beating West Ranch in the regular-season finale and was held out against Nipomo for precautionary reasons.
Floyd has been the key to the Grizzlies’ wildcat formation, opening lanes for Jalin Lewis, D.J. Turner and Ahvie Harris to flourish.
“We know (Fountain Valley) is going to have to practice defending all of our different formations this week,” Kelley said. “Having DeGabriel back gives us the ability to go into the wildcat whenever we need.”
Golden Valley (6-5) worked to a 15-2 win over Nipomo but also had three touchdowns called back due to penalties and dropped two touchdown passes.
“The scoreboard didn’t really represent that game very well,” Kelley said
Kelley singled out defensive ends C.J. Ravenell and Derrese Morganfield, who combined for 15 tackles, two sacks and two tackles for a loss in the win.
Fountain Valley (7-4) beat Elsinore, 38-23, in the first round. Senior quarterback Nick Welch has rushed for over 900 yards while passing for 2,158 yards and combining for 28 touchdowns.
