The Gary Hixon era at Gans did not get started in the way all would have liked as the Grizzlies opened the season with a 50-0 loss to the host Keota Lions last Thursday night.
The game ended at halftime due to the 8-man football 45-point mercy rule.
Keota’s Kayden Decker returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and Kalib West ran in the twopoint conversion to give the Lions (1-0) an early 8-0 lead.
Gans senior Caiden Kennedy started at quarterback, and the team received a delay of penalty prior to its first offensive snap. Kennedy attempted to avoid a sack but threw the ball backwards which hit the goal post and was ruled a safety.
While Keota scored on the next two possessions, the Grizzlies (0-1) ended their drives with two interceptions, one by Keota’s Traiten Bryant and the other by his teammate, Remington Tomlin.
On the final play of the first quarter, Gans converted a fourth down on a run by Austin Hines, which was Gans only first down of the quarter. The first quarter ended with Keota leading 34-0.
After picking up another first down on the drive, Keota’s Kale Johnson recovered a Gans fumble.
Keota then scored on a 28-yard run by Josh Pickle, and Hines had a 51-yard punt on the next drive.
The Lions’ final score of the night was a 61yard rushing touchdown by Kalib West.
The Grizzlies will look to get their first win as well as their new coach’s first win at 7 p.m. next Thursday night as they travel to meet the Oaks Warriors.
••• To Get There — Take Oklahoma State Highway 141 east to U.S. 64. Take U.S. 64 west to Interstate 40. Take I-40 west to Vian. Take Oklahoma State Highway 82 north to Tahlequah. Take Oklahoma State Highway 10 north to Kansas, Okla. Take U.S. Alternate 412 west to Twin Oaks. Take Highway 412A south to Oaks.
