Le Grand eyes third consecutive section crown

LE GRAND -- The Le Grand football team will return to a familiar site tonight.

The Bulldogs will try to win their third straight section title at the Grape Bowl in Lodi.

Le Grand (10-2) will square off against Waterford (10-1) in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 championship at 6 p.m.

While the Bulldogs made it back to the Grape Bowl, their journey was much different than last year.

"We had more obstacles this year," said Le Grand running back Ryan Martinez. "We didn't have a bye in the playoffs. We had to go on the road in the second round. But I think all that made us better.

"I think this team was too young to have a bye. We wouldn't have appreciated it. It was good for us to come back and play a game after we lost to Ripon Christian."

With a younger team this year, it took a little longer for the Le Grand coaching staff to find the right spots for some of their players.

"It wasn't that long ago in 2008 or 2009 where we were trying to win games just to get in the playoffs," Le Grand head coach Rick Martinez said. "Then we were trying to get a home playoff game. At this point, after the success we've had, the expectations are higher. Some of our guys didn't understand what it took.

"I think after the loss to Ripon Christian they realized it. They learned that they have to earn it."

The Bulldogs have earned their way back to the section title game.

They were in a tight game with Rio Vista in the first half before pulling away in the final two quarters. The Bulldogs had to come from behind in the second half to defeat Golden Sierra in last week's semifinals.

"I knew it would be harder this year," said senior defensive lineman Chris Miranda. "Last year, with the guys we had, I knew we would come out and beat everyone. This year, we had to try different guys in different spots.

"We had to man up and that's what we did. All that hard work paid off."

Le Grand faces a Waterford team that it beat 40-20 on Oct. 5.