Friday night lights are back in Granite City and have a new look on the Kevin Green Multi-Purpose turf field. On Friday September 9th, the Warriors took on the Champaign Central Maroons in an exciting game that unfortunately ended in a loss for Granite City.

The Warriors kickoff by senior player Brady Smallie was returned by the Maroons and then stopped by Smallie with the tackle at the 50 yard line. The Maroons tried to push down the field but the Warriors defense stopped them from moving past the 50 yard line and that ended their drive and started the Warriors first offensive drive with quarterback Kendrick Lyons. 

Leading his team down field, he throws a pass which connects with wide reciever Ian Poston who ran down the field for a 20 yard touchdown to make the score 7-0. Still in the first quarter, with the momentum of their first drive, the defense stops the Maroons once again causing the offense to take the chance to push down the field with Lyons connecting another pass to Poston for a 25 yard gain. Jumping into the second quarter, Lyons scrambles out of the pocket to throw a deep pass to wide receiver Logan Webb for a 35 yard gain, shortly after, the Maroons break through the O-line for a sack causing the warriors to lose 5 yards. To end off the first half Marquese Berry sacks the Maroons quarterback which sends them into halftime with the lead 7-0. 

Coming back in the 2nd half the Warriors start with the ball but end up having to punt the ball away. The Maroons block the punt, and shortly after the Maroons end up with a touchdown and go for the PAT, but Marquese Berry returns the blocked punt making the score 7-6. Leading into the 4th quarter Lyons threw a long pass to Isaiah Ford in triple coverage causing Kharthyl Phillips from the Maroons to pick it off and run it in for a touchdown putting them in the lead 7-12. After the interception, the Warriors were stopped which caused them to punt; the Maroons received it and ran it all the way for the touchdown. After that Lyons throws a short pass to Bay Damiano for a 20 yard gain, and then to Webb who scores a touchdown making the score 13-18. The final drive of the game the Warriors work their way down the field to have just enough time to make one more play, Lyons has two targets running in the endzone he made the quick decision under pressure to throw into double coverage for Ford, and the Maroons swat it down making it a close game 13-18 leaving the Maroons with the win.