Granite Bay hosted Tempe Saturday in a meeting of two highly-regarded HS club teams from different states.

This was a rankings-creator's dream as the #27 Granite Bay team was highly-regarded (if you listen to the scuttlebutt) but hadn't had sufficient results to compare to the likes of Tempe, which entered the game ranked #10 on the basis of a very strong 2021 and an early (and convincing) win over Red Mountain.

It wasn't an easy trip for Tempe to make but they fronted up well. the Tempe coaching staff of Bret Fullerton, Charie McGarvie, and Chris Hacker said the team came out a little flat early.

"In physicality they brought the game to us and we underestimated them," said one.

Granite Bay Head Coach Chris Miller echoed Morgan, saying: "we played well for our first match but need to remember they traveled 12 hours to play us."

Still, on the field the Granite Bay forwards controlled much of the game and that was a positive on a Grizzlies team that only had three seniors in the pack. Hooker Jayden Flores, flanker Bryce Arikawa, and No. 8 Jeremy Harmer led a really strong forward effort, while scrumhalf Avion Ganse-Lira kept them moving at a good clip.

Down early in the first half Tempe had too much to make up. They almost did, making it a 31-26 Granite Bay victory in the end. Morgan said he was pleased to see his team find its rhythm in the second period, but the mountain was a little too high. For Granite Bay, closing out games will be a bit of a work-on.

"Our lack of fitness got the best of us," said Miller. "We had two penalties in the first half and 12 penalties in the second half." 

Fatigue produced a lack of focus and shortcuts led to penalties.

Next week Granite Bay faces Lamorinda while Tempe has a league game in Arizona against Phoenix/Tucson.