Grant Pacers win 2-AA State Championship in thrilling fashion

By Nicholas Ibarra | OBSERVER Staff Writer

The Grant Pacers once again lived up to their billing as cardiac kids, letting a 21 point halftime lead slip away late in Friday night’s 2-AA State Championship against the Pacifica Tritons at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

But as was the case the past two weeks in the Sac-Joaquin Section and Northern California regional championships, the Pacers hit their stride in the closing minutes to beat the Tritons 35-28, capturing Grant’s second state title in three consecutive appearances.

With under four minutes to play and the game knotted at 28-28, the Pacers (12-3) began their final drive at their 23 yard line. Quarterback Luke Alexander completed a pass to Tyson Griffin into Triton territory. Then Alexander hit star receiver Koby “Cheese” Shabazz with an 18-yard pass Shabazz turned into a touchdown.

Koby “cheese” Shabazz celebrates in the end zone after scoring the go-ahead state-championship winning touchdown in the 4th quarter, giving the Grant Pacers a 35-28 lead with 3 minutes left to play. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER

The Tritons (11-4) had three minutes left, but the Pacers defense kept them from moving the ball.

“This journey has been up and down,” said senior running back Brandon Lambert, who caught a nine-yard pass for a score and later rushed for a six-yard touchdown. “It was crazy, I just knew I needed to get into the end-zone.”

“We’ve been grinding since January, getting after it in the weight room and outside conditioning,” Lambert added. “We put a lot of work in. Everybody wanted it.”

Grant co-Head Coach Carl Reed, who took over a losing program in 2021 and turned the Pacers into champions, told The OBSERVER after the stunning turn of events, “This is for the ‘G.’ This is for the community. They absolutely showed out and this team showed out for them.”

Reed reflected on the Pacers’ improbable run to the title featuring two last minute drives that snatched victory from defeat. “These kids showed heart the last four weeks. That takes something special. They made this community proud. Pacers for life.”

Reed called his coaching staff – which includes co-Head Coach Syd Thompson – the best in Northern California and perhaps the state. “Having these kids prepared, when you have a young team, you have to re-adjust and have them ready for anything. These young men played their hearts out.”

Grant Coach, Carl Reed (in gray) and members of the coaching staff hoist up their trophy after winning the 2-AA State Championship. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER

These heart-pounding finishes have become normal for Grant during the playoffs. In the CIF SJS Division 2 final, Grant trailed the Rocklin Thunder. In a thrilling game, the Pacers narrowly defeated Rocklin with a score of 30-28, earning the section title. After winning the section, Grant moved on to face Saint Francis in the CIF Division 2-AA state semifinal where they defeated them 35-21.

“Just keep working, no matter how tough things get or how you’re feeling,” Lambert said, when asked what he was going to take away from this experience. “Pacer pride and Pacer nation is about family. We’re a family. Look at everyone that came out to support us, that’s what it’s about.”

This was the Pacers third straight state championship game, winning the CIF title in 2022 after defeating the San Jacinto Tigers 36-34, losing in 2023 to La Serna 21-19 and again in 2024 with the victory over the Tritons 35-28.