The Grand County Middle School football team cruised to two easy home wins over the past couple weeks. The Thunderbirds defeated Whitehorse 55-0 on Sept. 30 and also beat San Juan district’s Lyman Middle School 40-14 on Oct. 8.

In the Whitehorse game, Koi Cook scored two touchdowns, a 40-yard run in the first half and a 75-yard kickoff return to start the second half. Cameron Taylor added two rushing touchdowns, one in each half. Quarterback and kicker Jacob Francis added one rushing touchdown and threw for another, a 21-yarder to Kaden Risenhoover. Francis also converted five of seven extra point kicks. Layton Call added a 30-yard rushing TD.

Defensively, the T-birds forced five fumbles and recovered one of them, said coach Ron Dophin. “We held Whitehorse to two first downs the entire game,” he added, noting that the T-birds only ran 16 offensive plays during the game, seven of which resulted in touchdowns. Defensive players making tackles for losses included Francis, Cook, Taylor, Call, Trae Downard, David Bentley, Treyton Helquist, Ronnie Dolphin, and Jerry Ingleby.

Against Lyman Middle’s Mustangs on Oct. 8, the T-birds scored the first six touchdowns of the game, building a 40-0 lead. San Juan scored twice in the closing minutes to make the final score 40-14.

Cook scored three touchdowns, including one on an 18-yard reception from Francis and on rushes of 75 yards and 13 yards. Francis also scored on a 13-yard run, returned an interception 18 yards for another score, and made four of six extra point kick attempts. Taylor added one more TD, a five-yard run.

The next T-bird football game will be in Helper on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. The team, cheerleaders, and mascot(s) will leave on a bus from the middle school at 12:30 p.m.