North running back Venasio Mikaele #30 is taken down by Grand Terrace’s Dale Thomas in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North quarterback Coryon Rayford #5 steps on Grand Terrace’s Garrett Ostrinski before being sacked in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s captains from left Jaden Wells, David Gusta, Lonzel Bradford and Sal Gonzalez head to the coin flip before the non-league football game against North in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s Troy Steptoe is pulled down by North outside linebacker Deilen Davis on a short run in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North running back Venasio Mikaele #30 leaps through a Huskies banner as the team takes the field to play Grand Terrace in a non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North fans cheer for the kickoff against Grand Terrace in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North wide receiver Kavon Baptiste #1 hits Grand Terrace’s Troy Steptoe on a first down run in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
San Bernardino County Sheriffs Explores present the colors for the nation anthem before the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s wide receiver Lonzel Bradford #13 score his second touchdown of the first half against North in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North Harold Hendricks #4 just gets out of the end zone as he is pulled down by Grand Terrace’s Dominic Balderrama in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s quarterback Damion Williams #4 passes against North in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North quarterback Coryon Rayford #5 is pulled down by a Grand Terrace defender in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North wide receiver Jadon Adams #2 tries to avoid a Grand Terrace defender in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s GT glows as the sun reflects on the highly reflective letters as fans find their seats before the start of the game against North in the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North running back Venasio Mikaele #30 straight arms Grand Terrace defender in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North quarterback Coryon Rayford #5 is pulled down by a Grand Terrace defender in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North head coach Dennis Brown calls a time out against Grand Terrace in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North running back Venasio Mikaele #30 is taken down by Grand Terrace’s Dale Thomas in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North running back Venasio Mikaele #30 plows through Grand Terrace defenders for a first down in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s Malachi Morrison breaks up a pass intended for North wide receiver Kavon Baptiste #1 in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s defensive tackle David Gusta #60 stops North running back Venasio Mikaele #30 in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace defenders sack North quarterback Coryon Rayford #5 in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s Corey Young tries to break free after the catch from a North defender in the first half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North quarterback Coryon Rayford #5 steps on Grand Terrace’s Garrett Ostrinski before being sacked in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North quarterback Coryon Rayford #5 tries to avoid a Grand Terrace defender in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North wide receiver Zion Brooks #9 celebrates his touchdown catch with Jadon Adams #2 against Grand Terrace in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North wide receiver Zion Brooks #9 celebrates his touchdown catch against Grand Terrace in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North head coach Dennis Brown talks with his team during a timeout against Grand Terrace in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
North running back Venasio Mikaele #30 runs away from Grand Terrace’s Luke Vargus in the second half of the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Grand Terrace’s defensive tackle David Gusta #60 talks with officials after the non-league football game in Grand Terrace on Friday, Aug 23, 2019. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
GRAND TERRACE >> The Riverside North football team cleaned up its mistakes and picked up a win in Week 0.
Coryon Rayford passed for two touchdowns in his first varsity start at quarterback, and North rebounded from two early fumbles to defeat Grand Terrace, 17-14, Friday night in a nonleague game.
“(Rayford) is a great competitor and he doesn’t get rattled. They were bringing blitzes from everywhere but he just stayed the course and made a few plays,” North coach Dennis Brown said.
Rayford completed his first six pass attempts and finished 16 of 21 for 94 yards as North (1-0 overall) got a win in a season opener for the first time since 2012.
“First half we had to come out and figure out what we were going to establish, and in the second half we came out and knew we had to run the ball and execute,” Rayford said.
Venasio Mikaele, who ran for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman last season, ran for 77 of his 98 yards in the second half. He finished with 22 carries in his first game as a sophomore.
Lonzel Bradford caught two touchdown passes in the loss for Grand Terrace (0-1), which played without two-year starting quarterback Mekhi Lewis, who remains sidelined with an unspecified injury.
“Seeing some guys step up in a nice rivalry like this, a hard-fought game, was a positive. We needed to get some other guys some opportunities (but) Lewis will be back in a matter of weeks,” Grand Terrace coach Ryan Smalls said.
North got its first points of the season on a 39-yard field by Taren Schive for a 3-0 lead, but Grand Terrace benefited from an errant snap on fourth down to take over deep in Huskies’ territory, punching it in two plays later for a 7-3 lead early in the second half.
The Titans played with a short field most of the second quarter, and took a 14-3 lead as Bradford caught a short slant and spun away from a defender before crossing the goal line for his second touchdown.
North grabbed its first touchdown as time expired in the second quarter, with Coryon scrambling to his right before hurling it into the back corner for Kavon Baptista, who leaped and came down with the catch in a crowd to end the first half.
North ran off a 13-play drive to start the second half and took the 17-14 lead on a 20-yard pass from Rayford to Zion Brooks midway through the third quarter.
Jadon Wells was 10 of 17 for 80 yards and two touchdowns at quarterback for Grand Terrace, which failed to gain a first down on any of its four possessions in the second half.
