GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – The Gridley varsity football team was soundly defeated Friday night, September 23, by West Valley 52-0 at home in the penultimate game before Butte View League play begins.

All things considered, the Bulldogs (2-2) have fared well in the preseason so far, winning half of their games. Gridley opened the season with a 20-0 win against Wheatland on September 2. The Bulldogs followed it up two weeks later with a 34-7 road win at Live Oak in the Harvest Bowl, Gridley’s ninth straight win over the Lions.

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In between those two games, the Bulldogs lost 27-13 at Marysville. The Eagles (1-3) scored 14 points in the first quarter, 21 in the second, seven in the third and 10 in the fourth to handle Gridley its second loss Friday.

Senior running back Niall Raby had a huge night for West Valley, accounting for 219 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns. He rushed 10 times for 85 yards and three scores. Raby also had a game-high five receptions for 134 yards and a TD, with 56 yards coming on one play.

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West Valley senior quarterback Noah Mason completed 13-of-17 passes for 262 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Mason also rushed three times for 15 yards and a score.

For the Bulldogs, sophomore quarterback Gus Stogsdill converted 4-of-11 passing attempts for 41 yards. Stogsdill was Gridley’s leading rusher with 15 carries for 58 yards and a lost fumble. Freshman linebacker Jason Davis Jr. finished with a game-high 10 tackles with four being solo and one being for a loss.

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Gridley will attempt to bounce back from the loss with its final preseason game of the season at home against Fortuna (1-4), Friday night September 30, at 7:30 p.m.