“If you knew the stuff this team went through to get here, you wouldn’t believe me.”
The late great NBA coach Rudy Tomjanovich gave the world an unforgettable quote after his Houston Rockets won the 1995 NBA championship.
“Never underestimate the heart of a champion,” Tomjanovich said at that time.
Nearly 30 years later, that motto epitomizes the Central Grizzlies 2024 football season. From the very beginning of the season, the Grizzlies knew how much they were over looked as pundits across the state published their rankings and analysis.
But the Grizzlies always believed in themselves, knowing they have the heart of a champion. As the Grizzlies marched to a Central Section championship, then made a trip to the state championship, it became clear to the critics also what the team is made of.
“We’ve known that people counted us out all year,” star running back Brandon Smith said after his team took down St. Ignatius College Preparatory 33-23 in the Division 1-A Regional Finals. “But we turned people’s head now.”
Smith gave the Central Valley an unforgettable night in the regional finals. A night that started with Smith’s electrifying fumble return for a touchdown, ended with four more scores from the same superstar.
Years from now people may still find it hard to believe when they see the final total on Smith’s historic performance, which included three rushing touchdowns and another on the receiving end. Still, Smith and the Grizzlies didn’t spend too much time celebrating their victory in the regional final. Instead, they quickly turned their attention to the state championship game that was waiting for them a week later.
“You have to stay humble, keep it going,” Smith said after the regional final.
The Grizzlies once again showed their resilience as they faced the Edison Chargers (Huntington Beach) in the Division 1-A State Finals. Despite falling behind early and facing several setbacks throughout the game, the Grizzlies put up a strong fight against a powerhouse Edison team.
The valiant effort, however, ended in heartbreak for the Grizzlies. Edison’s Jake Minter put the dagger in Central when he caught a 54-yard touchdown catch from Sam Thomson to seal a 21-14 victory with 20 seconds left.
The Central supporters, who made the four-hour drive from Fresno to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, proudly sent off their their team with cheers and encouragement after the historic season came to an end. It was clearly a season of unforgettable memories. And maybe the most precious memory will always be the Grizzlies’ Central Section Championship.
The Grizzlies faced a tall task in that section championship game, facing an undefeated Clovis East team. Per usual, however, the Grizzlies proved that they were up to the task. Although the Grizzlies trailed 17-14 going into the break on that unforgettable night, Central’s stingy defense came up big in the second half, holding the Timberwolves’ explosive offense to only one touchdown. And in the end, it was Smith who delivered a 65-yard touchdown run that sealed the championship and prompted the visiting fans to erupt in unison.
“It’s the best feeling, coming into their house, felt good to beat them here,” sophomore quarterback Jelani Dippel said after his team captured the title.
Dippel proved all season long that age is only a number. The savvy sophomore completed 18 of 26 passes in the section championship game, along with 217 passing yards and two touchdowns. But it was also Dippel’s resiliency that became evident throughout Central’s playoff run.
Unlike many young athletes (or even some vets) who crumble after making mistakes, Dippel showed that he is not deterred by errors. Even in the state championship game when the young star was intercepted twice, he continued to fight back and nearly led the Grizzlies to a victory. But a few critical drops spoiled Central’s opportunity.
“I know how to stay calm,” Dippel said after the section championship game. “Last time I did bad and I now I played calm and I did amazing this time.”
Central’s storied football program, which won the state title in 2019, has now captured four Central Section championships in the past eight years under the leadership of head coach Kyle Biggs. This latest season, though, was one of the most challenging for Biggs. Earlier in the season, Biggs had to regroup his team after a brawl unfolded during a game against the Justin Garza Guardians and brought negative attention to the program.
Only the Grizzlies know how many more obstacles the team faced behind the scenes. But whatever it was, it wasn’t enough to deter the team from its goals.
“If you knew the stuff this team went through to get here, you wouldn’t believe me,” Biggs said.
What we know clearly, however, is that the Grizzlies have a heart of a champion. And it was obviously a mistake to underestimate them.
