Honkers grind out win against Bulldogs

When the passing game wasn't working for the Willows High football team, the running game filled the void.

Drake Matteson rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Honkers over the visiting Bulldogs 19-14 Friday.

Matteson got off to a strong start in week one against Colusa and improved upon that performance against a much tougher Gridley team.

While Matteson was the workhorse, carrying the ball 23 times, Ryan Welsh made the most of his three carries to the tune of 101 yards and a touchdown.

The Honkers defense held Gridley to 122 rushing yards on 30 carries and sacked sophomore quarterback Emery Haddy seven times.

Eduardo Briones, Jacob Candelaria and Trevor Candelaria had two sacks apiece and Pierce Baker brought Haddy down once.

Welsh intercepted a pass from Haddy, who threw for 135 yards, and Trevor Candelaria recovered a fumble.

Willows quarterback Justin Fortunato hit Alex Alves for a 25 yard strike but finished the game with just 26 yards passing, while the running game took time off the clock.

After a 7-7 first quarter the Honkers added six points in the second and six more in the third to take a 19-7 lead.

Gridley (0-1) scored once in the fourth quarter but Willows (2-0) held on for the win. Up next for the Honkers is a road trip to Winters on Friday to play the Warriors (1-0) who beat Esparto 49-14 on Friday.