Grundy Center football makes most of turnovers, rolls past Hudson

HUDSON – Big plays set the tone for Grundy Center football from the start of Friday’s game at Hudson, overwhelming the Pirates 47-0 in Class A District 3 action.

The Spartans are 4-0 and head back for homecoming against AGWSR next Friday.

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On the second play from scrimmage, Tiernan Vokes scored on a 38-yard touchdown pass play from Colin Gordon.

Grundy Center’s defense got in on the scoring with a Trent Cakerice 14-yard interception return for a touchdown.

“That really opened the floodgates,” Grundy Center head coach Travis Zajac said. “The kids were locked in the rest of the night and won it going away.”

Before the end of the first quarter, Hudson fumbled the ball away and Clay Saak made the Pirates pay with a seven-yard run and a 20-0 lead after the first 12 minutes.

The Spartans continued hammering away in the second quarter, with Gordon breaking the plane with his feet and then chucking two more touchdown passes, one each to Tate Jirovsky and Tanner Laube, for a commanding 40-0 halftime advantage.

Brody Zinkula carried the second-half backfield duties as Grundy Center subbed heavy in the second half, and broke off a 43-yard rush near the midway mark of the third quarter for the final tally of the night.

Zajac was pleased to see the Spartans avoid turnovers that have cropped up in previous games and work with the major field position advantage granted by the defensive unit.

“The offense is coming along very nice,” Zajac added. “We’re making some big plays, grinding out drives.”

Defense remains the rock-solid foundation of it all.

“We’re able to align to what they give us, and we have a thorough knowledge of their top plays in that formation,” Zajac said. “Our defensive coaches, Chris Conger, Jeff Dole, Gary Knaack, they do a fantastic job of getting the kids ready to execute.

“We’re a better football team this week than last week, and we’re ready for the second half of our schedule.”

The Cougars will come to town after taking their first loss of the season, 42-14. Homecoming kickoff is 7 p.m. in Spartan Stadium

“Those seniors, and the younger leaders, have been asked to continue to maintain the standard and prepare like champions every week,” Zajac said. “Playing as hard as we can for as long as we can. Those senior boys have done that and then some, and I’m excited for them to enjoy their homecoming.”