G-Men surf by Narrows: Graham defeats Green Wave 47-32, eyes playoff position
Graham (47) vs. Narrows (32)
Written: Nov 08, 2014
By TOM BONE
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — After running for 171 yards and two touchdowns on the Mitchell Stadium turf, Kyshon Lee wanted one more trip down the sideline — a leisurely postgame one. He deserved it.
Nine of the Graham senior’s 17 carries went for first downs, often on impressive power rushes that dragged would-be tacklers in his wake.
Combined with Ben Meade’s 50 rushing yards and 40 passing yards, the G-Men crafted a 47-32 win over the Narrows Green Wave on a chilly Friday night.
Lee said, “I felt like, in order for me to go out with a bang, I needed to go and run hard ... and hopefully end the night with a win, and we did, and I like it. I love it. It feels great.”
“There were some hard hits, but I just broke the tackles and kept running, because I wanted my team to be up. I wanted to do everything I could for the team.”
The G-Men (4-6) scored touchdowns on their first four possessions, jumping out to a 28-0 lead.
Then Narrows (1-9) scored 20 unanswered points, capitalizing on a successful onside kick and the first of two Graham fumbles that they recovered. All three touchdowns came on passes from senior Jackson Blankenship.
Graham reasserted control with the next three scores to lock up their third straight win and a playoff berth.
Israel Harris, who picked off two of Blankenship’s passes, scored the G-Men’s final points on his third touchdown of the night, a 28-yard interception return with 5:52 left. He gained 117 yards rushing as well.
“We got up on them quick, 28-0,” said Graham head coach Mike Williams. “Then I thought we relaxed a little bit, which concerns me. (Narrows) played hard to the finish.”
The G-Men racked up 390 total yards, but the Green Wave did not ebb easily, finishing with 289 yards of offense.
Blankenship was harassed by the Graham pass rush all night, but stayed with the play until the last possible second. In all, he had 123 passing yards and four scoring tosses, and gained 71 yards mostly on scrambles and option runs.
“I kind of kept escaping the pocket somehow,” he said. “I don’t really know how I did it. But it just kind of came together.”
Narrows head coach Kelly Lowe said, “We played our hearts out. ... They played with great heart and great courage. Graham’s got a really good football team. Graham does a good job, but I tell you what, I am proud of my kids.”
“We could have given up (when we were down) 28-0, but we battled back and we cut it to 28-20 and our kids were right there in the mix. ... I’m so proud of them, and I wish Graham the best of luck.”
Blankenship said about playing for Narrows, “It’s all about the heart, it’s all about the pride, it’s all about school spirit. No matter what the record, no matter what, we all love the game, we all love being out here, we all love wearing this green and gold.”
At Mitchell Stadium
Narrows..........................0 12 8 12 — 32
Graham.........................14 14 7 12 — 47
First Quarter
G - Kyshon Lee 1 run (Logan Surface kick), 8:30
G - Lee 3 run (Surface kick), 3:43
Second Quarter
G - Israel Harris 5 run (Surface kick), 9:32
G - Harris 18 pass from Ben Meade (Surface kick), 6:17
N - Bailey Snidow 49 pass from Jackson Blankenship (kick failed), 5:55
N - Kyle Hall 3 pass from Blankenship (run failed), 3:11
Third Quarter
N - B. Snidow 3 pass from Blankenship (B. Snidow pass from Blankenship), 9:36
G - Meade 18 run (Surface kick), 2:20
Fourth Quarter
G - Roman Workman 3 pass from Meade (run failed), 7:24
G - Harris 28 interception return (Surface kick), 5:52
N - Drew Stowers 9 run (pass failed), 2:31
N - B. Snidow 3 pass from Blankenship (pass failed), 0:15
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — N, Jackson Blankenship 13-71, Drew Stowers 8-66, Bailey Snidow 4-17, Brandon Stowers 4-12. G, Kyshon Lee 17-171, Israel Harris 17-117, Ben Meade 6-50, Paris Ballard 2-10, Patrick Fielder 2-3, Team 1-(-1).
PASSING — N, Blankenship 11-27-123-4 TD-2 intc. G, Meade 5-7-40-2-0.
RECEIVING — N, Chase Lawson 2-21, B. Snidow 5-64, Landon Neal 2-19, Kyle Hall 1-3, Cody Collins 1-16. G, Roman Workman 3-22, Ballard 1-18, Taymon Cooke 1-0.
———
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs N 13, G 19. Total yards N 289, G 390. Passing yards N 123, G 40. Rushes-yards N29-166, G 45-350. Att-comp-intc N 11-27-2, G 5-7-0.
|