RIPON — Grace Davis of Modesto made one more conversion kick than host Ripon Christian did on Friday to go home with a 20-19 win in non-league football action.
“That was a really good team,” Knights coach Randy Fasani said. “Probably one of the best we have ever played.
“Hats off to Grace Davis coach Tim Garcia and the rest of his coaching staff because they played incredibly tough and were well-coached.”
The Spartans (1-0) may have been tough and well-coached, but they enjoyed some luck as well when an inadvertent whistle kept Ripon Christian (0-1) off of the board with what appeared to be a touchdown off of a turnover.
 The Knights carried a 19-13 lead into the fourth period when Grace Davis quarterback Elijah Diaz found Gregory Smith for the duo’s second touchdown of the evening, this one from 60 yards out with 7:54 left in the game. Smith also had a 53-yard run.
Ripon Christian’s Sean McGovern (21 carries, 105 yards) scored on a 6-yard run in the second quarter and a 3-yard run in the third. Nolan Lingley (12 of 31 passing, 169 yards, touchdown) found Ian Vrieling (six receptions, 78 yards) with a 24-yard scoring pass in the second quarter to give the Knights a 13-0 lead.
Garrett Bryan led Ripon Christian with 16 tackles followed by Jaden Booth with 11 and Wyatt Van Vliet with 10.