Jefferson High School’s football team delivered an electrifying comeback on Friday night, taking down Grant with a thrilling 28-19 victory. The game had its fair share of heart-pounding moments, especially when junior Zay Clark Anderson's impressive pick-six turned the tide for the Democrats, propelling them to the lead in the third quarter. With the interception returned for a touchdown, Jefferson not only secured their position at the top of the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) standings but also gave the home crowd a night to remember.
It wasn’t just Anderson’s pivotal play that made headlines. Senior Michael Patten also contributed to Jefferson's defensive show with another interception late in the fourth quarter, which he returned for a touchdown. Patten’s pick-sealed the victory, solidifying the team’s dominance on the field and adding an exclamation point to the Democrats’ already stellar defensive performance.
This wasn’t just about two big plays, though—this was a team effort, and Anderson couldn't have said it better. "Michael Patten, I’m very proud of him," Anderson said in praise of his teammate. "He started out rough. He had his head down, but he came back and fought the adversity." This sense of brotherhood was clearly present throughout the game, with Anderson adding, "We’re brothers, and we fight for each other." The defense had stepped up in a way that won the game, and it wasn’t lost on anyone, especially their coach.
Coach Anthony Stoudamire couldn't help but be proud of his team’s resilience. “Our kids responded well tonight,” Stoudamire shared. "We had a little adversity early, but our defense played well with two pick-sixes. They pretty much carried us tonight." While the offense had a solid start, the coach acknowledged that it became "a little stagnant," putting even more pressure on the defense to hold their ground. And hold they did—Jefferson’s defense carried the team through the toughest moments of the game.
Grant, on the other hand, had their fair share of troubles, especially after losing their starting quarterback, Braden Baker, to a concussion just before halftime. Baker was sacked by Jefferson’s senior Cannon Sternberger on the final play of the second quarter. While Baker initially stood up, he soon went back down, signaling something was wrong. After remaining on the field throughout halftime, medical personnel, including firefighters and an ambulance crew, attended to Baker, and he was eventually carted off the field. “From what we could tell, it was a concussion," explained Grant coach Alex Melson. "We called EMS just to make sure someone had eyes on him and got him to the hospital to get checked out." Baker’s absence was a big blow to Grant’s offensive strategy.
But as any seasoned football player or coach will tell you, the show must go on. Grant's sophomore backup quarterback, Nick Normington, was thrust into the spotlight for the second half. While he gave it his best, going 2-for-10 for 22 yards passing, he also threw two interceptions, one of which played a major role in Jefferson’s late-game heroics. “It’s the next man up,” said Coach Melson. “It’s important to understand that your number can be called at any time.” Though Grant remained optimistic, losing their starting quarterback was a tough hurdle to overcome.
Despite Baker’s injury, Melson didn’t attribute their loss to that alone. “We struggled a little bit offensively, but it’s not even about the offense," he explained. "At the end of the day, we still needed to get off the field and get some stops." Indeed, while Grant leaned on the running game to keep them in contention, it wasn’t enough to stave off Jefferson’s opportunistic defense. Senior running back Marcus Rouse Jr. put up impressive numbers for Grant, carrying the ball 33 times for 211 yards and two touchdowns. "We knew he would be able to get downhill, be physical, and earn a lot of yards," Melson said of Rouse’s performance. Still, Rouse’s hard work wasn’t enough to overcome the loss of momentum or the sting of two costly interceptions.
The game’s momentum swung back and forth throughout the night, with Grant taking a 19-7 lead early in the third quarter thanks to a 65-yard interception return by senior linebacker Thomas Browning. But Jefferson wasn’t ready to roll over. They quickly responded with a 43-yard touchdown reception from sophomore Carlos Brown-Chaavarria, cutting into Grant’s lead and setting the stage for the eventual comeback.
Jefferson’s offense also had its share of struggles, particularly with penalties. In the third quarter, a holding penalty nullified what would have been an 18-yard touchdown reception by junior EJ Cozart. Coach Stoudamire expressed frustration over the penalty situation: "We’re shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties. That’s something we talked about during the week, and that’s something we’re really going to start working on—cutting down on the penalties." According to Stoudamire, penalties were the primary culprit in slowing down their offensive drives and forcing them into tough situations.
Jefferson's quarterback, Brave Johnson, had a solid outing, going 19-for-33 for 289 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. Cozart played a significant role in the passing game, hauling in four receptions for 63 yards. Meanwhile, sophomore Jayden Robinson made his presence felt with 11 carries for 25 yards and a touchdown, while also catching nine passes for 122 yards. It was a gritty, well-rounded performance, but as Stoudamire pointed out, the penalties are something they'll need to clean up as they look ahead.
Speaking of looking ahead, Jefferson's win keeps them tied atop the PIL standings with Ida B. Wells, who also improved to 3-0 in league play after a decisive 50-21 win over Franklin. However, Jefferson won’t face Wells until the regular season finale on November 1. For now, Coach Stoudamire is keeping his focus on the present. "We’re going to enjoy this one tonight," he said after the game. "Tomorrow, we’re going to start focusing on Roosevelt."
The road ahead for Jefferson promises to be tough, but if this game was any indication, the Democrats have the grit, heart, and defensive prowess to make some serious noise in the PIL. As the season progresses, the focus will remain on one game at a time, as Stoudamire wisely noted, “We can only control what we can control, and that’s us. That’s what we’ll focus on.”
It’s clear that this Jefferson squad has no shortage of talent and determination. With standout players like Anderson, Patten, and Johnson, and a defense that knows how to deliver when it counts, the rest of the PIL better keep their eyes on the Democrats. This team has proven they know how to win—whether it’s a hard-fought battle or a come-from-behind thriller like Friday night. And with the season still unfolding, you can bet they’re just getting started.
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