Steers go 2-1, finish successful SQT season News Staff Tue, 06/11/2024 - 9:36 am
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham defensive backs Thomason Burkett (13) and Jordan Alexander (41) crowd a Ponder receiver to try to break up a pass during the Steers’ first 7on7 game Saturday, June 8. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Graham Steers 7on7 team kneels and listens to their coach before their final game of the state qualifying tournament at Clyde last Saturday, June 8. The Steers finished 2-1 in pool play on the day and will look forward to the state tournament in College Station in a few weeks. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers offensive players get set before running a play at the state qualifying tournament in Clyde last Saturday, June 8. Graham has already qualified for state and went 2-1 in pool play in their final SQT. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Quarterback Ty Thompson fires a pass to one of his receivers during Graham’s final state qualifying tournament Saturday, June 8. The Steers took their first loss of the SQT season but still finished the day 2-1.
TC Gordon sports@grahamleader.com
The countdown is on for the Graham Steers 7on7 team as they look forward to the state competition in a few weeks. But last Saturday, the Steers got in one more round of competition at the Jim Ned State Qualifying Tournament.
On a hot day, the Steers suffered their first loss of the SQT season in a match-up with Stephenville. But their other two games of pool play were dominant wins sandwiched around the loss.
With their final SQT wrapped up, the Steers will head to College Station to compete in the 7on7 State Tournament and will begin pool play Thursday, June 27.
Steers v. Ponder, (W) 32-14
Graham’s first match-up of the day took a slow start before the Steers picked things up in the second half and ran away with a win over Ponder.
Though they started with the ball first, the Steers went three-and-out on their first drive; meanwhile, the Lions took an early lead on a 9-yard touchdown. Graham knew how to answer as a couple of connections between quarterback Ty Thompson and receiver Brayden Riggins turned into the Steers’ first touchdown to even things up at 7-7.
For the rest of the first half, the two teams both scored one more time each with some defensive stops in between. As the halftime horn sounded, Graham trailed 14-13.
In the second half, Graham’s defense stepped things up and held Ponder scoreless the rest of the game. The Lions went three-and-out on their first drive with defensive back Cooper Corley having a big pass breakup on third down.
The Steers drove down the field and retook the lead on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to receiver Jace Gill. Graham took a 19-14 lead after the missed extra point, but they wouldn’t let up.
Corley came up big on the defensive side during Ponder’s next two drives. Once again, the sophomore had a third down pass breakup to force a turnover, and after Graham scored again to make it 26-14, Corley tipped a ball on the next Ponder drive which defensive back Thomason Burkett intercepted.
Thompson sealed the win with an approximately 40-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to receiver Harison Brockway as the Steers cruised to the victory.
Steers v. Stephenville, (L) 25-21
Coming into this game, the Steers knew they faced a challenge when it came to the Yellow Jackets. Stephenville was a top team in 4A Division I last season and brought back talented players.
As it happened in the first game the Steers went down early after their opening drive stalled. Stephenville marched down the field and scored first to lead 7-0.
Similar to the Ponder game, Graham answered on the ensuing drive. The Steers had a clutch third down conversion by Brockway, and the drive ended with Thompson finding running back Rylan Monsey over the middle for a 9-yard touchdown which evened things up at 7-7.
The Yellow Jackets scored again on their next drive followed by the Steers dealing with some drive-killers on their next one. On one play, Thompson found a receiver in the end zone for a touchdown, but it was called back due to the quarterback taking longer than four seconds to release the ball, a blown play in 7on7.
On third down of the same drive, it looked like the Steers’ receiver caught a pass for a first down, but he had a foot out of bounds on the catch so it was ruled incomplete. Although Stephenville didn’t score again before halftime, the Yellow Jackets led 13-7 with some momentum on their side.
Things took a turn for the worse in the second half as Graham’s defense allowed two more Stephenville scores to push the deficit to 25-7. But the Steers weren’t finished yet.
With about eight minutes left to play, the Steers orchestrated a ferocious comeback attempt. Thompson found Gill streaking up the left sideline for a quick 45-yard touchdown to make it 25-14.
The defense held strong and the offense made quick work again, as they scored a 31-yard touchdown, again from Thompson to Gill.
However, with the clock in their favor, Stephenville was able to run it out in the final minutes and they handed Graham their first loss of the SQT season.
Steers v. Midland Christian, (W) 34-13
Graham’s final SQT game against Midland Christian followed a similar script to the Ponder game. The Mustangs scored first, Graham answered with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brockway and Midland Christian took a 13-7 lead on their next drive.
For the first time on the day, the Steers went into halftime with a lead as Riggins hauled in an 8-yard touchdown and the following extra point for a 14-13 Graham lead.
Coming out of the half, Graham’s defense locked down, once again. As the offense continued to work and put up points, the defense held Midland Christian scoreless in the second half. Corley, who had an interception in the first half of this game, nabbed his second pick of the game while the rest of the defense caused havoc for the Mustangs’ receivers and quarterback.
The Steers’ offense ran all over Midland Christian’s defense as they bounced back from their first SQT loss a game earlier. Graham will now look towards the state tournament in College Station in a few weeks.
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