By: Joe Cicchino - Sports Information Assistant

PHILADELPHIA -- Germantown Academy took to the road for its first contest of 2018. However, neither that nor the suboptimal weather could deter the Patriots from putting on a show against Simon Gratz High School. After falling to the Bulldogs 31-7 a year ago, GA returned the favor, winning this year's contest, 36-24. 

The Patriots opened up the scoring thanks to quarterback Jordan Longino '21, who was able to find paydirt from one yard out. Following a block punt, Trae Vance '20 was the next to score, breaking a few tackles en route to a three-yard touchdown. 

Longino would find the endzone again in the second quarter, this time from two yards out. Bookending that score was two touchdowns by Gratz. However, the Bulldogs were unable to execute a two-point conversion after both scores. At the half, GA led 20-12.

While short-yardage runs led to points for the Patriots in the first half, it was the big play that led to points in the second. Simon Gratz struck first with a 30-yard pass, but again failed the two-point conversion. 

If he had not put his mark on the game prior, Vance certainly did with his second touchdown run of the game, a 70-yard scamper to make the score 27-18. Gratz would answer with a short-touchdown run, however, they could not tack on two points.

GA added a 25-yard touchdown pass from Longino to Jerry Griffen-Batchler '21 in the fourth. They closed out the game when a group of defensive lineman -- led by Elijah Wroten '19 -- took down Simon Gratz's quarterback for a safety.

GA begins the season 1-0. They will host Frankford on Sept. 8 at 1:30 p.m.