Specialized Reporting Story 4: Boone Hibernation for High Country Grizzlies Ends

Spring football officially came to Boone Saturday night when the High Country Grizzlies played their first home game as a franchise.

Fans packed Appalachian State University’s Holmes Center-- where the Mountaineers’ men’s and women’s basketball teams play their home games-- to watch the Grizzlies play the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks.

Grizzlies’ wide receiver Cody Sterrett said the team was ready for a great environment.

“We know this is a football crazy town, and once people realize we’re the real deal, it’s only going to get better,” Sterrett said.

The home opener was the Grizzlies’ second game of the season, as they beat the Georgia Firebirds last week on the road 62-29. Sterrett said the team was beyond excited to start the inaugural season off with a huge win.

The Grizzlies are trying to succeed in a town that has seen its college football team win three national championships.

What helps bring some of these fans to Grizzlies’ games is the number of former Appalachian State players on the team. Defensive back Troy Sanders, wide receiver Malachi Jones and wide receiver Dexter Jackson all played football for the Mountaineers and now play for the Grizzlies.

“I really like Malachi, because he played for App State and now plays for the Grizzlies, so I can keep watching him here,” 8-year-old Ben Joyce said.

Ben Joyce and his family live an hour north of Boone but love Appalachian State sports and have been waiting for the first home game since they heard of the team’s creation.

Ben’s dad, Jason Joyce, said the family of seven goes to Mountaineer football, basketball and soccer games.

“They are a great way for us to spend a few hours together,” Jason Joyce said.

Many of the fans in the crowd were also Appalachian State students, seeing as the game was right on campus.

“It’s just a different atmosphere being in a basketball arena and seeing a football stadium in there,” Appalachian State junior Michael Pigg said.

Pigg said it was his first arena football game and was excited to see people tackled into walls. He said he was interested in how the competition was different from outdoor.

The Grizzlies play in the National Arena League. The NAL plays on a 50-yard field with 8-yard end zones. The out of bounds markers are rubber padded walls. There are eight players on the field for each team and one offensive player can go in motion before the snap. No punting is allowed. Kickoffs are from the goal line and the ball is live if it hits off the field goal net. However, if a kicker makes the kickoff in the field goal it is two points.

The rules create a small playing field with exciting and quick action. Fans who stayed long enough were treated to two Grizzlies players being hit over the wall into the Steelhawks’ bench in the fourth quarter.

Although the Grizzlies lost 48-42, the game was back and forth and came down to the final play when the Grizzlies had a chance to tie it with a touchdown but the pass by quarterback Stephen Panasuk fell incomplete. Fans were excited from the opening kickoff up to the final play of the game.