Senior QB helps Crusaders top Palo Verde
Faith Lutheran quarterback Sagan Gronauer denied he had been waiting all season for a performance like Friday night’s.
But the senior’s wide grin made it clear just how good it felt.
Gronauer was spectacular in his lastregular-seasongameathome, throwing for 305 yards and five touchdowns in a 36-19 victory over visiting Palo Verde.
“It’s honestly amazing, coming out here and doing it for the last time, at leastintheregularseason,”gronauer said. “It’s amazing how four years just fly by like that. I can’t wait to see what happens going forward.”
Gronauershouldgetatleastone more game in front of his home crowd because the victory sealed the No. 2 seed in the Northwest League for the Crusaders (5-4, 3-1). That’s thanksinlargeparttotheidaho State commit, who was also Faith Lutheran’s leading rusher with 35 yards.
Itwasabreakoutgameforthe three-year starter, who had 12 TDS entering the night. His numbers would’ve looked even better if an 80-yard touchdown pass and a run of more than 80 yards weren’t called back on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter because of penalties.
“He’s a special kid,” Crusaders coach Vernon Fox said. “Not just with his abilities on the field. He’s a high-character kid. Been a threeyearstarterforus,donealotofgreat things. I don’t expect it to stop after high school. He’ll go on, he’ll play at the next level. That’s already been solidified. We’re happy for him. We know he’ll continue to lead us and we’llgowherehetakesus.”
Gronauer led Faith Lutheran down the field early in the game and put his team up 14-0 with two TD passes in the first eight minutes. Then
Palo Verde (5-3, 3-2) made a push, recovering a fumble on defense and special teams.
The Panthers converted both turnovers into TDS to cut their deficit to 14-13, but then Gronauer went back to work.
He threw two more TDS in the third quarter, which was enough to give Faith Lutheran a comfortable win after close calls against Palo Verde the past two seasons. Charronthomasranfor73yardsand two TDS for the Panthers, who were outgained 376-144.
“We know every time that we face Palo it’s going to be a tough matchup, it’s not going to be easy,” Fox said. “In this case we were able to makeafewmoreplaysthatwere able to put us in a comfortable position to get a victory and stabilize ourselves in the league.”
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @ Bensgotz on Twitter.