The last time Junction beat Fruita Monument in football, this year’s senior players were learning addition and subtraction in second grade.
GJHS has turned a new leaf this season, ending an 8-game losing streak going back 10 years against the rival Wildcats in a thrilling 28-27 overtime victory in Ralph Stocker Stadium.
“All the hard work that the players put in paid off. The ‘never-die’ mentality of the team that’s developed is what made it happen, and it felt great,” said fourth-year GJHS football coach Landon McKee.
On Friday, Sept. 20, the game started like many of the past meetings, with Fruita in the lead. However, it didn’t take long for Junction to fight back.
The energy on both the field and the student section was palpable as Junction continued to keep stride with Fruita, all the way until the very end of the fourth quarter. The game ended tied 21-21 in regulation.
“The energy has been positive and has been contagious through all players and levels,” McKee said.
The game went into overtime and the student section was roaring. GJHS senior quarterback Will Applegate made a daring pass to GJHS junior Drew Marsh who scored the winning touchdown.
When junior kicker Rylan Mulvey kicked the winning extra point, the stadium erupted with Tiger spirit. The student section could not be louder as Junction finally secured their victory over the rival Wildcats in nine years.
Applegate and Marsh connected three times on touchdown passes in the game. Junior running back Matthias Martinez also scored a TD for the Tigers.
Grand Junction’s record improved to 4 wins and no losses (4-0), marking the team’s best start to a season in 13 years. Fruita dropped to 1-3 with the loss.
“[This season] is a lot more fun [than last season], especially with winning twice as many games as last year,” said GJHS senior Mason Anderson.
The 7th-ranked Tigers next play against 12th-ranked Durango (2-2) at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27.
The Tigers host Homecoming against Gateway (1-3) of Aurora at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. There will be a school-wide pep assembly the same day.
