BUNCH — Whether it was having the bye week last week or the Cave Springs Hornets themselves, but Thursday night was not a good night for the Gans Grizzlies as they lost 50-0 to the Hornets in a game that was called at halftime due to the mercy rule.

The Grizzlies (1-4) trailed 28-0 after a period, and the game was called at halftime after the Hornets (2-3) scored 22 second-quarter points.

First-year Gans coach Gary Hixon said that it just was not the Grizzlies’ night.

“Everything that could go wrong went wrong for us,” Hixon said. “Our plan was to not rush their quarterback. On the first two or three series, they snapped the ball over their head. Our kids would rush and to keep contained, and he is such a good athlete that we couldn’t keep him contained. He turned a big loss into a big gain. We didn’t play very disciplined football in my opinion. Penalties cost us and not covering kick returns. We’d see the ball go 10 yards, and we wouldn’t get on the ball, or we would let someone else try to get it. I feel like we were intimidated (Thursday) night. I thought we were a little rusty going out (after not playing since the homecoming game Sept. 20 vs. Midway). We had some kids miss some preparation days for Cave Springs, and my policy is if you miss a day, you don’t play the first quarter. I feel that hurt us as well.”

The Grizzlies will begin District BII-4 play at 7 p.m. this Friday against Arkoma at Grizzly Field.

“Now, it’s district time,” Hixon said. “Now, we really have to focus because Arkoma is next. It’s their bye week (last week). They will get two weeks to prepare for us. I sure hope things will go our way from here on out.”