G.W. Graham shows grit, determination in tough loss to No. 1-ranked Mouat

ABBOTSFORD — Fresh off a statement win to start its season, the G.W. Graham varsity football team had its work cut out for itself facing the No. 1-ranked W.J. Mouat Hawks in Abbotsford Friday night.

And while a 35-12 loss wasn’t what the Grizzlies were hoping for, G.W. Graham showed flashes of strong play in all three phases of the game, providing plenty of optimism for the weeks ahead. From explosive runs to key defensive stands and special teams execution, the Grizzlies proved they can still execute in high pressure contests.

Offensively, running back Ridley Mastin continued to be a standout performer, racking up 95 yards on just 10 carries while adding 57 receiving yards on three catches. Quarterback Lincoln Boyd showed poise under pressure, throwing for 168 yards on 14 completions out of 24 attempts, though he did toss two interceptions while playing catch-up in the second half. Boyd also ran in a touchdown of his own, with fellow running back Lucas Guard contributing a score on the ground as well, finishing with 20 yards on four carries. Wide receiver Cody Hagel remained Boyd’s go-to target, hauling in four catches for 54 yards and nearly securing two more highlight-reel toe-tap catches that were controversially ruled incomplete. Hagel also racked up 40 kickoff return yards.

Image: Amber D. Wyatt / Cody Hagel gets some room to run vs. the Hawks Friday night in Abbotsford.