GRANVILLE — The Washington Blue Lions traveled over 150 miles round trip on Friday night to Licking County to take on the Granville Blue Aces (3-0).

It was a tough night for the Blue Lions as they fell by a score of 70-14 on the evening.

The Blue Aces received the opening kickoff and returned it to their own 40-yard line. Two plays later, they connected on a 53-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was good to make it 7-0 just 46 seconds into the game.

After getting a stop on third down, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Granville had the Blue Lions nearing midfield on their first possession of the contest. The drive stalled and they were forced to punt, and a delay of game penalty on the punt moved them back five yards. The ball was then snapped over the head of sophomore punter Caiden Justice, who went and retrieved the ball and tried to run for the first down but was unsuccessful.

On Granville’s first play of the next drive, a big run got them quickly into the red zone. The next play was a 19-yard touchdown pass, and the PAT was good to make it 14-0 with 8:04 left in the first quarter.

Another penalty on third down on the Blue Aces would keep the Blue Lions next drive alive, but they would fumble the ball away on the next play. A face mask penalty on Washington after a big run from Granville put them deep inside the red zone. They would score on the very next play on a 12-yard pass, and the PAT made it 21-0 with 4:55 to go in the first.

On the first play of Washington’s next possession, Gavin Coffman found Aden Osborne down the sidelines for a 21-yard gain. A face mask penalty on Granville would put the Blue Lions in Blue Aces territory for the first time in the game, and another face mask on Granville on the next play moved them to the Granville 31-yard line. A second completion from Coffman to Osborne had them at first-and-goal inside the 10. Coffman would pick up six yards on a scramble to make it second-and-goal from the three. Osborne would run in the touchdown two plays later, and the PAT was good to make it 21-7 with 2:42 left in the opening quarter. Osborne suffered an ankle injury on the touchdown and would not return in the contest.

The Blue Aces made quick work on the next drive and scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 39 seconds left to go in the quarter. The PAT made it 28-7 which was the score going into the second period of play.

Granville tried to catch Washington off guard with an onside kick following the PAT, but the Blue Lions were able to recover it.

Coffman was intercepted on the drive and it was returned for a touchdown. The PAT was no good and made it 34-7 with 11:52 to go in the half.

Washington had to punt out of their own end zone on the next drive, and Granville would have great field position from the Blue Lions 22. A sack from Miguel Utrera made it second-and-long, But a face mask on Washington after a Blue Aces run had them inside the five. They would run it in for a touchdown on the next play and the PAT made it 41-7 with 8:37 remaining in the half.

After another Blue Lion punt, Granville marched down the field and later scored from six yards out. The PAT made it 48-7, and an unsportsmanlike penalty on Washington after the touchdown was enforced on the kickoff.

Washington had to punt yet again, and the Blue Aces looked to add one more score before the half. They attempted a 46-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining, but were unable to convert. This left the score at 48-7 which was the halftime score.

Washington freshman Sam Pfeifer started at quarterback to begin the second half and was intercepted on the first play after his pass was deflected. The Blue Aces would score on a short rush just a few plays later and a two-point conversion made it 56-7.

The Blue Lions added a touchdown on the next series on a 48-yard rush from running back Andrew Young. The PAT made it 56-14 with 52 seconds left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Blue Aces would add two more touchdowns to make it 70-14, which was the final.

With the loss, the Blue Lions fall to 0-4 for the first time since they started 0-4 and finished 1-9 during the 2008 season. They will look to regroup and earn their first win of the season next Friday as they travel to take on Monroe (3-1). The Hornets defeated Hughes (2-2) 26-20 in overtime on Friday.

Granville (4-0) will travel to take on Utica (1-3) next week.