> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hlsports.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # CJI Hawks Fall to Top-Ranked Grass Range-Winnett, 50-30, in Playoff Opener - URL: https://hlsports.news/cji-hawks-fall-to-top-ranked-grass-range-winnett-50-30-in-playoff-opener/ - Published: 2026-11-02T06:58:40.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-02T06:58:40.000Z - Author: Chad Smith - Tags: CJI Sports, Football, Postseason By Chad Smith / HLSN Sports Grass Range-Winnett, the top-ranked team in the state, pulled away in the second half to beat the CJI Hawks 50-30 on Saturday in a first-round playoff game at Grass Range, ending the defending state champions' season at 5-4\. The Hawks led 12-6 after the first quarter and again 24-22 late in the first half before the Rangers closed the half with a score to take a 30-24 lead into the break. It was the third meeting between the two teams in less than a year. CJI beat the Rangers for last year's state championship, and the Rangers won 47-0 in this season's opener. On Saturday, the Hawks scored the first points of the game and put 30 points on the board against one of the best teams in the state. CJI took the opening lead on its first possession. A third-down pass from Avery DeVries drew a pass interference penalty on the Rangers, and junior Levi Nelson broke free on a long run that was pushed out of bounds at the 1-yard line. On the next play, senior Ryan Ramberg took the handoff and punched it in, with a key block from Lex Wolery, to make it 6-0. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/cd/55cdb1c0-f3e5-421a-aa92-b5ab96e31797/content/images/2026/11/135_7Z8A1701.jpg) Senior Ryan Ramberg is buried at the bottom of this pile, behind Lex Wolery (44), as he scores from the 1-yard line for the first touchdown of the game. Wolery's block opened the hole for him to charge through. Photo by Chad Smith Photography. The Rangers answered when quarterback Randy Olson found Freddie Allen for an 11-yard touchdown on fourth and goal. The Hawks came right back. After Nelson returned the kickoff to the 40 and ran the ball down to the 14, the Hawks went to a trick play on third and goal. The play was designed to look like a handoff for a run, with Ramberg taking the ball from DeVries, but he stopped and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior Dane Grammar, making it 12-6. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/cd/55cdb1c0-f3e5-421a-aa92-b5ab96e31797/content/images/2026/11/146_IMG_8142.jpg) Ryan Ramberg (13) looks for room to run as Levi Nelson (25) blocks. Ramberg scored on a 1-yard run and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dane Grammar on the Hawks' very next drive. Photo by Chad Smith Photography. Grass Range-Winnett tied the game early in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Hazen Arntson, and the extra point put the Rangers up 14-12\. Nelson answered with a 4-yard touchdown run to put CJI back in front 18-14\. Late in the second quarter, the Hawks defense gave the offense a chance when Wolery stopped the Rangers on a fourth-and-16 from the 17 and the Hawks took over on downs. The Rangers then hit a big play, with Randy Olson connecting with Ryan Olson on a screen pass that went for a 60-yard touchdown and a 22-18 lead. The Hawks hit a big one of their own. After Nelson returned the kickoff to the 40 and ran for a first down, DeVries found Nelson in the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown pass, and CJI led 24-22 with 2:28 left in the half. Grass Range-Winnett scored again with 22 seconds left, and a successful extra point sent the teams to halftime with the Rangers up 30-24\. The Hawks got one more possession, but time ran out. The Hawks defense kept the game within reach in the third quarter. Nelson intercepted a pass, and later blocked an extra-point kick, and the Rangers managed only a 4-yard touchdown run by Olson to make it 36-24 heading into the fourth quarter. The Rangers added a 16-yard touchdown pass and a 16-yard touchdown run by Tyler Cox in the fourth quarter to make it 50-24. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/cd/55cdb1c0-f3e5-421a-aa92-b5ab96e31797/content/images/2026/11/211_IMG_8876.jpg) Senior Dane Grammar (58) dives after Rangers quarterback Randy Olson (9) in the backfield. Photo by Chad Smith Photography. The Hawks did not quit. On their final possession, Nelson returned a kickoff to the 34, DeVries was pressured but drew a pass interference penalty on the Rangers, Jace Ramberg made an 11-yard, one-handed catch, and DeVries ran the ball to the 5-yard line for a first down. Nelson scored from the 5 on third and goal to make it 50-30. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/cd/55cdb1c0-f3e5-421a-aa92-b5ab96e31797/content/images/2026/11/325_IMG_0530.jpg) Avery DeVries (16) delivers a pass with a Ranger closing in. Photo by Chad Smith Photography. Nelson finished with 24 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns, added a 39-yard touchdown reception, and had 186 yards from scrimmage and 18 points. He also returned five kickoffs for 74 yards and led the defense with 18 tackles (12 solo) along with the interception and the blocked extra point. Ryan Ramberg scored on the ground, completed his only pass for the touchdown to Grammar, and returned two kickoffs for 18 yards. DeVries completed 3 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown, rushed twice for 23 yards, punted once for 26 yards, and had 12 tackles (9 solo). Grammar, who handled all five kickoffs for the Hawks, caught the touchdown pass, and senior Ivar Englund handled the Hawks' extra-point attempts in his final game. On defense, Ryan Ramberg, Jace Ramberg and Shane Woods each had 3 tackles, and Wolery had 4\. The Hawks finished with 47 tackles and 258 yards of offense, 195 on the ground. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/cd/55cdb1c0-f3e5-421a-aa92-b5ab96e31797/content/images/2026/11/328_IMG_0541.jpg) Senior Ivar Englund (4), a foreign exchange student, kicks an extra-point attempt for the Hawks in his final game. Photo by Chad Smith Photography. Grass Range-Winnett finished with 327 yards, 169 rushing and 158 passing. Randy Olson completed 11 of 16 passes for 143 yards and threw four touchdown passes, and Ryan Olson caught two passes for 61 yards, including the 60-yard score. The Rangers held the ball for 22:09 to the Hawks' 17:51. The loss ends the careers of CJI's five seniors, Dane Grammar, Ryan Ramberg, foreign exchange student Ivar Englund, team videographer Isabelle Habets, and stat guy Wrigley Lalum. Grammar, Ramberg and Englund were all in the middle of the action in their final game, and the Hawks battled the Rangers with all they had to the very end. The Hawks return a lot of experience next season, led by junior starters Buffington, DeVries, Nelson and Wolery. Sophomore impact players Mattson, Jace Ramberg and Woods are ready to step into the seniors' open positions. Congratulations on a great season! [Click here](https://gallery.chadsmith.photography/?r=60ff68&ref=hlsports.news) for a full gallery of photos from the game.