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AFTON – Things are not always what they seem.

To look at the final stats of Friday’s game between Grainger and Chuckey-Doak, it would appear that the Grizzlies would have won easily over the Black Knights as they dominated the total yards from start to finish. The unfortunate problem for Grainger was they gave up two defensive touchdowns and that proved to be the difference in a 27-22 loss.

Grainger fell behind 27-6 in the third quarter but used a grinding offense and big plays on special teams to claw back into the game. The Grizzlies were driving towards a possible game-winning score but were stopped on a fourth down play near midfield and the Black Knights were able to run out the clock.

“We had two turnovers that led to turnovers tonight and that is just growing pains,” Grizzlies head coach Michael Manis said. “We had a lot of adversity and distractions this week in practice. We have lost our starting quarterback and right guard for the year so we were trying to get through the game tonight and our kids did a great job fighting back. We are just really young and we are making too many mistakes.”

The Grainger defense held the Black Knights to only 161 yards of total offense while compiling 350 of their own. Hunter Mallicoat rushed for 101 yards, Dawson Fowler had 64 and Luke Davis had 57. Davis threw for 88 yards and a touchdown

The Black Knights’ first score came on defense when Isaiah Treadway stepped in front of a Grainger pass and took it 80 yards the other way for the score. Marco Rojas’ extra point was good. The next score was also defensive as the Grizzlies had a pass thrown behind the line that fell to the ground and Brock Rush scooped it up for a 43-yard fumble recovery. The PAT made it 14-0. Brasen Murvin produced an offense touchdown for C-D when he scored from the 49 to make it 21-0. Grainger got on the board before halftime when Hunter Mallicoat was true from 15 yards away.

The extra point was no good and Grainger trailed 21-6 at the break.

It appeared the Black Knights were going to score again as they took the opening drive deep but big defensive plays by the Grizz forced a long field goal attempt that failed.

The home team was able to convert on their next possession as Murvin was in again, this time from 39 yards and it appeared the Black Knights were firmly in control.

But here came the Grizzlies. Kade Williams was on the receiving end of a 16-yard touchdown from Luke Davis and Mallicoat ran in the conversion. Grainger executed the on-side kick to perfection as Mallicoat fell on the ball to set the Grizzlies up for what would become a scoring play later on.

Brody Wells scored from the four and converted the two-pointer to pull the Grizzlies to within five at 27-22.

Grainger got the ball back when C-D tried a fake field goal that didn’t work and they took over on their own 21 yard line with just over three minutes left.

They faced a fourth down play with just over a minute showing on the clock but the defense was able to hold and Chuckey-Doak ran out the clock for the win.

Elizabethton visits The Den next Friday.