<I>Marcus Larson/News-Register</I><BR>Grant Union's Ethan Kowing, Jimmy Cook, and Cash Wenick work together to bring down Amity's Julius Gomez preventing him from converting a big yardage gain.

AMITY – It was a day of turnovers in Amity last weekend.

The Grant Union football team came away with a 21-14 win despite a few big errors Saturday, Nov. 15. The win keeps the Prospectors alive in the Oregon School Activities Association playoffs.

Grant Union and Amity struggled to keep control of the ball at times. The Pros and Warriors combined for six turnovers in a battle of the undefeated, with both teams at 10-0 entering the game.

Grant Union had two fumbles and a punt error in the game. Amity’s quarterback Bobby Hatch threw three interceptions in the game.

The Pros gave the ball up on a fumble on Amity’s nine-yard line on their first drive of the game. They added another fumble later in the half. However, the biggest turnover came on the punt. The officials said the ball hit a Grant Union player on the punt and Amity recovered it on the 30-yard line. The Warriors took it into the end zone, but Cash Wenick blocked the extra-point attempt to keep Grant Union ahead 7-6.

“We need to take better care of the ball,” Grant Union coach Monty Nash said. “On offense we need to control the ball. We can’t turn it over in those situations. We need to finish and put the ball in the end zone. I felt it should have been 28-0 at halftime if we didn’t turn it over.”

However, the Warriors mistakes proved more costly. Two of Hatch’s interceptions came on potentially game tying plays near the goal line. Grant Union’s Dustin Lippert picked a ball off at the three-yard line at the close of the half to keep the Pros ahead.

Hatch found himself in a similar situation near the close of the game. Amity got a first down and goal with around five minutes left to play. Grant Union’s Wenick stopped the quarterback sneak on first down. Then the Pros’ Lippert and Jimmy Cook came up with big stops, including a hit for a three-yard loss by Cook, to set up the fourth down. Hatch threw on fourth down and Tyler Martin got his second interception of the season on the two-yard line. Grant Union picked up a first down on the following play and then took a knee to run the clock out for the win.

Although the Pros won, they only slightly edged the Warriors in yardage. Amity threw for 142 yards and ran for just under 80. Grant Union passed for 148 yards and rushed for 87.

The Pros continue to spread their offensive production out and have increased pass percentage throughout the season.

Grant Union’s three touchdowns came on pass plays. Grant Union quarterback Austin Ranft hit Jake Reynolds for a seven-yard touchdown to start the game. Reynolds’ catch was his second touchdown in two weeks. Lippert took a 36-yard pass in for the second touchdown and Dalton Moore had the final reception for a touchdown. Kyle Weymouth kicked three good extra points.

“We just didn’t throw to him (Reynolds) as much earlier in the season,” Nash said. “Now he gets open on a lot of play action because of that. People don’t key on him.”

Dozens of Prospector fans filled the Amity stadium for the Nov. 15, and many backers gave the team a send-off on Nov. 14 in a parade that was headed by the John Day Police and Fire departments. Nash said he was surprised by the large contingent of Grant Union fans who made the journey.

“I was overwhelmed with the support we got from the community,” Nash said. “It’s amazing that so many people would make the five- or six-hour drive over for the game. It was a good thing for the kids on the team to see.”

Grant Union will play Cascade Christian at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Summit High School in Bend. The game is being played at a neutral site, but the Pros are considered the home team.