SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Three Sacramento Valley high school football teams went down to Southern California this weekend to play for a state title. The Grant Pacers were narrowly defeated, but came home Saturday reflecting on their season and having a bright outlook on the future ahead.
“Even though we didn't get this end result, they're still NorCal champions, they're still section champions,” said head coach Carl Reed. “These young men are still leaving as champions, this program, the staff, they're leaving as champions.”
The Pacers nearly won back-to-back titles but ultimately lost to the La Serna Lancers 21-19.
Quarterback Luke Alexander was pulled from the game due to a concussion, but the team held its head high coming back home.
“The team, we went through a lot,” said senior Devin Green. “I feel like this is probably like, my most fun this year here for high school, just, you know, just the community, everybody here, the coaches, everybody like family.”
He missed the first seven games of the season due to some eligibility issues, but says he and his family are looking past the scoreboard and focusing on the lessons learned both on and off the field this year.
“It's made him a better bigger person,” said his mother, Deanna Green. “He's learning some very important valuable lessons about family and community and perseverance and adversities and how to fight those adversities and conflict resolution. I mean, it's just endless.”
Reed says while this season comes to a close, he can’t wait for what the future brings.
“We're back to being a perennial program. And I think we have the pieces in place to be around for a long time,” he said.
While Grant missed out on another state title Friday, Woodland Christian and Folsom high schools won their games Saturday night.
WATCH MORE: California High School Football: Grant Pacers unable to secure state title | Extended Highlights
