The going was not nearly as easy for King’s Fork High School’s football team on Friday night compared to its previous two games, but the team ultimately got the result that it wanted.

“We had to overcome some adversity,” Bulldogs coach Joe Jones said, as frustration abounded on the team due to penalties. “We had three touchdowns called back.”

Grassfield High School has a habit of making life difficult for King’s Fork. Though the host Bulldogs held onto a small lead for over half the game, the Grizzlies took their first lead near the end of the third quarter. But the home team took ownership of the fourth quarter.

“The guys did a good job adjusting and getting after it,” Jones said, as King’s Fork remained unbeaten with a 19-10 win.

The Bulldog offense struggled early on to get points on the board. But so did the Grizzlies.

“Defensively, we played very well,” Jones said. “Our defense keeps us right in the thick of it.”

King’s Fork was not able to produce any offensive yardage through the air, but junior feature back Deshaun Wethington more than made up for it on the ground.

Wethington carried the ball 28 times for 339 yards and two touchdowns. King’s Fork gained a total of 390 yards from scrimmage for the game.

He got his team on the board in the first quarter with a 57-yard scoring run. In the first half, the offense once turned the ball over on a fumble, and it also scored but had it called back due to holding.

The Grizzlies converted a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter to make it 7-3 at halftime.

Jones said his team felt like it had the momentum coming out of the blocks in the third quarter with a strong drive, but then the Bulldogs’ frustration reached its peak.

“We scored twice on the drive, and they were both called back,” Jones said, citing illegal procedures.

Instead of King’s Fork taking a significant lead, with 1:22 remaining in the third, Grassfield took its first lead of the game on an 11-yard touchdown run.

“They got up 10-7, and we responded immediately,” Jones said.

With senior kicker Patrick Wall struggling, senior Bryce Jones took over the kicking duties and hit back-to-back 37-yard field goals in the fourth quarter.

“I’ve got to say, (those were) some clutch kicks,” Coach Jones said. “I was proud of him. I was proud of him as a player, and of course, I guess as a dad, I was proud of him, too.”

The Bulldogs got the ball back shortly thereafter, and Wethington made it a two-score game when he broke away for an 80-yard touchdown run with 4:42 left in the game, making it 19-10.

King’s Fork kicked the ball out of bounds on the ensuing kickoff, and Grassfield opted for the Bulldogs to re-kick. The returner received the ball but was then stripped of it by KF senior Kane Miskel, giving the home team the ball on the Grizzlies’ 25-yard line to help seal the win.

Miskel also contributed an interception to the Bulldogs’ strong defensive effort.

Coach Jones praised several defensive linemen, including senior George Reid and sophomore Travius Cheeks.

“They did a good job anchoring down the middle there,” he said.

He also highlighted the performance of senior lineman Kajuan Reid.

King’s Fork (3-0) visits Great Bridge High School next Friday night.