High School

Grant Union survives late Pacifica push to win CIF state title: Live updates recap

Grant Union and Pacifica went back and forth all night, but a late touchdown produces the Pacers' third state title

Sam Brown

Grant sophomore Zo Edwards goes up high to haul in one of three catches he had Friday for 62 yards and a touchdown in the Pacers' 35-28 win over Oxnard Pacifica for the CIF State D2-AA championship at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Dec. 13, 2024.
Grant sophomore Zo Edwards goes up high to haul in one of three catches he had Friday for 62 yards and a touchdown in the Pacers' 35-28 win over Oxnard Pacifica for the CIF State D2-AA championship at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Dec. 13, 2024. / Photo: Todd Shurtleff

Oxnard Pacifica and Sacramento Grant Union will battle it out in the CIF 2-AA state title match on Friday for the right to call themselves California high school football state champions.

Pacifica (11-4) lost four games in five weeks earlier this season, but the Tritons have been on a tear since, winning all of their last eight games, including a 37-20 victory over Narbonne last week.

Grant (11-3) enters this matchup on a nine-game winning streak in which the Pacers have outscored their opponents 451-100. They beat Saint Francis 38-30 last week to earn their spot in the state championship.

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Follow along below for live updates from the Grant Union vs. Pacifica CIF Division 2-AA state championship game Friday in Mission Viejo. The game is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. PT.

You can also watch this game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required).

Pacifica vs. Grant Union football live updates

Refresh the page for the latest updates.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Total

Pacifica

7

0

14

7

28

Grant

7

21

0

7

35

1ST QUARTER

GAME START: The CIF Division 2-AA state championship game is officially underway. Pacifica won the toss and elected to receive. The Tritons start with the ball on their 28-yard line after a short return.

Dominic Duran is under center for the Pacifica. The senior has thrown for 2,747 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.

TOUCHDOWN PACIFICA! Alijah Royster caps off a great first drive with an 8-yard rushing touchdown. The Tritons' offense played uptempo and only faced one third down on an 11-play, 72-yard opening drive that took just 2:22 off the clock. Pacifica leads 7-0, 9:38 Q1.

high school football championships, California football
Alijah Royster with one of four touchdowns for Pacifica in 35-28 loss to Grant in the CIF State D2-AA championship at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. / Photo: Todd Shurtleff

A quick three and out for Grant gives the Tritons the ball back on their 33-yard line after the punt.

Another punt gave Grant the ball back. The Pacers are now in the red zone after back-to-back great catches by Koby Shabazz and Zo Edwards. Shabazz had 77 receptions for 1,096 yards and 14 TDs coming into this game. Edwards had 13 touchdowns and 859 yards on just 48 receptions.

TOUCHDOWN GRANT! Luke Alexander hits Brandon Lambert on wheel route from 10 yards out to even things up. This game is tied 7-7, 2:47 Q1.

END OF THE 1ST: Pacifica 7, Grant 7

2ND QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN GRANT! Alexander connects with Edwards on a 26-yard dime and Edwards overpowers his defender to get into the end zone. That's Alexander's 40th touchdown pass of the year. Grant leads 14-7, 10:09 Q2.

TOUCHDOWN GRANT! Duran hit his receiver, but the receiver bobbled the catch, and Grant defensive back Gary Tia made his first interception of the season and then took it to the house for a 30-yard pick-six. Grant leads 21-7 with 9:49 left in the half.

Grant flipped the script quickly there. That is two touchdowns for the Pacers in the last 20 seconds of gameplay.

Duran just took a massive hit on a sack by San Diego State commit Jeremiah Tuileila. That's his 14th sack of the season to go along with 87 tackles and 20 TFL in 11 games.

TOUCHDOWN GRANT! Make it 28 straight points for the Pacers after Brandon Lambert takes it in from six yards out. That drive ate up nearly all the remaining time in the first half. Grant leads 28-7 with 37 seconds until halftime.

HALFTIME: Grant 28, Pacifica 7

3RD QUARTER

Grant starts the second half with the ball around the 30-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN PACIFICA! Duran hits Royster on a gutsy throw that could have been picked off, but Royster makes a great leaping catch to get the Tritons their second score of the night. Pacifica trails 28-14, 6:44 Q3.

ONSIDE KICK! Pacifica executed a surprise onside kick and the Tritons have the ball right around midfield.

TOUCHDOWN PACIFICA! Duran and Royster connect again on a 41-yard touchdown and this is back to a one-score game. Royster now has seven touchdowns in the last three games. Grant leads 28-21 with 1:45 left in the third.

END OF THE 3RD: Grant 28, Pacifica 21

4TH QUARTER

Grant begins the 4th quarter with the ball around its own 45-yard line.

The Pacers are methodically marching down the field. They have a first and 10 on the 14-yard line after a big pass and catch from Alexander and Shabazz.

A good defensive stand the red zone forced Grant to try a 22-yard field goal, but the kick went wide left and Pacifica will have the ball down seven points with 6:36 remaining in the game.

It looks like Grant will be without its star defensive tackle for the rest of the game after Tuileila left the field with help and appeared to be able to put very little weight on one of his legs.

Pacifica is facing a 4th and 8 on the Grant 21-yard line with 4:01 left on the clock. The Pacers just burned their final timeout.

TOUCHDOWN PACIFICA! Duran finds Royster yet again, this time in the back of the end zone on a beautiful pass. Royster has all four of the Tritons' touchdowns tonight. The extra point is good and this game is tied with 3:54 to go.

Grant has the ball on the Pacifica 23-yard line after a big pass and catch by Alexander and freshman Tyson Griffin.

TOUCHDOWN GRANT! Alexander hits Shabazz in the middle of the field for what may be a state championship-winning touchdown. Grant leads 35-28 with 22 seconds remaining.

Tuileila returned to the game and just picked up his third sack of the night on a play that leaves Pacifica with six seconds to produce a miracle.

That will do it. Grant survives against Pacifica to claim its third state title in school history after that wild finish.

FINAL: Grant 35, Pacifica 28

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Other California high school football news:

Former NFL QB Carson Palmer named high school football coach at California alma mater

Texas A&M signee Marco Jones wins prestigious award for second year in a row

Will Pittsburg's 5-7 quarterback outplay Akili Smith, bring 100th-season Pirates first high school state crown?

California high school football coach steps down after winning CIF title

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-- Sam Brown | sam@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports

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Sam Brown
SAM BROWN

Sam Brown covers high school sports as well as NCAA football and basketball. Sam began his professional career as a high school sports reporter for The Tennessean in Nashville where he covered boys and girls prep sports full-time and helped cover Vanderbilt football, Tennessee Titans football and Nashville Predators hockey. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a double major in journalism and communication studies and currently lives in Seattle with his girlfriend and dog.  

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