Maroon Tide rolls G-Men behind Harris
Graham (33) vs. Galax (41)
Written: Oct 17, 2015
By BILL ARCHER
Bluefield Daily Telegraph staff
BLUEFIELD — Senior tailback Charles Harris ran for six touchdowns and 446 yards on 44 carries unofficially and the Galax High School Maroon Wave ruined Graham High School’s homecoming 41-33 at Mitchell Stadium Friday night.
The G-Men defense adjusted to Galax’s pulling guard and tackle tandem in the second half limiting the visitors from Carroll County to six points. But the Wave’s defense proved stingy as well, limiting Graham to a single second half touchdown as well.
“They’re a good 3-4 team,” Graham Head Coach Tony Palmer said. “It was a well-played football team between two good teams.”
Palmer said that the G-Men were able to make some defensive adjustments on the second half, but his team couldn’t get over the hump after dropping behind by 8 points.
“They came up with the big stops when they needed to,” Palmer said. “That was the difference in the game.”
Galax drew first blood at the 8:06 mark in the game on a seven-play drive capped off by a Harris, 18-yard run off left tackle. Elijah Harrison’s point-after was good.
Graham showed off its power running game with Roman Workman picking up 20 yards on two carries, and Jamorya’ Cousin picking up 49 yards on two carries, including a 46-yard run up the middle that went for a score. Cousin had 175 yards on 20 carries, unofficially. Logan Surface hit the point-after to knot the score at seven-all with 6:24 left in the first quarter.
The two teams traded possessions, but on the Maroon Wave’s third possession, Harris scooted through a hole opened by Christian Brown and out-ran the rest of the Graham defenders for a 73-yard score with 4:04 left in the quarter.
Graham proved equal to the shoot-out after Workman hit DeQuan Booker for a 10-yard pass. Four plays later, Cousin pin-balled his way through Galax defenders for an 18-yard scoring run. Surface’s boot was true, evening the score at 14 with the first quarter in the books.
Galax didn’t let any turf grow under their feet, marching to a six play drive that was highlighted by a 37-yard Harris touchdown run with 9:46 left in the half. After a G-Men three and out, Harris totted the pigskin into the end zone again on an 11-yard run with 4:49. Harrison converted on both Harris scores.
The G-Men came to life after Cousin streaked for a 49-yard run to set Graham up on the Galax 16. Workman pounded ahead for 12 yards on three carries and Cousin used second effort to run in from 4-yards out. Surface booted the G-Men to 21 with 1:58 left in the half.
Galax proved equal to the task, answering with a 68-yard scoring Harris scamper, behind another key block from Brown, with 1:35 left in the half.
Workman would answer, throwing a 73-yard scoring strike to Ben Meade who streaked down the middle of June O. Shott Field, and out-ran the Galax defense. Workman finished the night with 125 yards rushing on 20 carries, as well as 5 for 13 passing and 123 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions, all unofficially. The interior of the Wave’s line busted through Graham’s O-line to block Surface’s point after.
The G-Men defense adjusted to the Galax running attack early in the third quarter, held the visitors and scored with 3:19 left in the third on a one-yard Cousin run. A two-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete, and the two-point margin was as close as the G-Men came.
A little over a minute later, Harris galloped 50 yards for the game’s final score with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter. An errant play on the center snap resulted in a botched conversion pass attempt.
Graham will host 5-2 Bland County on Friday night at Mitchell Stadium while Galax will host Fort Chiswell.
at Mitchell Stadium
Galax.......................14 21 6 0 — 41
Graham......................14 13 6 0 — 33
First Quarter
GX—Charles Harris 18 run (Elijah Harrison kick) 8:06
GR—Jamorya’ Cousin 46 run (Logan Surface kick) 6:24
GX—Harris 73 run (Harrison kick) 4:04
GR—Cousin 18 (Surface kick) :08
Second Quarter
GX—Harris 37 run (Harrisoin kick) 9:46
GX—Harris 11 run (Harrison kick) 4:49
GR—Cousin 4 run (Surface kick) 1:58
GX—Harris 68 run (Harrisoin kick) 1:35
GR—Ben Meade 73 pass from Roman Workman (kick blocked) 1:23
Third Quarter
GR—Cousin 1 run (pass failed) 3:19
GX—Harris 50 run (pass failed) 2:16
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