Huge first half leads Steers to win over Decatur News Staff Tue, 09/24/2024 - 9:13 am
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Senior running back Rylan Monsey (2) tries to get to the edge past a Decatur defender during Graham’s 34-14 win Friday, Sept. 20 over the Eagles. It was Monsey’s first game back since the season opener when he played one snap and left with an injury. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham receiver Thomason Burkett (21) backs into the end zone for a touchdown after catching a pass early on in the game Friday, Sept. 20. The Steers defeated the Decatur Eagles 34-14 and moved to 3-1 on the season. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Senior safety Bruin Wright jumps on a Decatur player to make the tackle during Graham’s 34-14 win Friday, Sept. 20 over the Eagles. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Senior linebacker Mason Milton strolls toward the end zone with another interception that he returned for a touchdown. It was the second pick-6 in as many weeks for Milton and helped with Graham’s 34-14 win Friday, Sept. 20 over Decatur. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham cornerback Ryder Taylor makes a tackle around the ankles of a Decatur ball handler during the Steers’ 34-14 win over the Eagles last Friday, Sept. 20. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers senior receiver Brayden Riggins watches a ball into his hands for a catch during Graham’s 34-14 non-district win over Decatur last Friday, Sept. 20. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s offense lines up at the less-than-1-yard line against Decatur’s defense Friday, Sept. 20. The Steers went on to score on this possession and ended up winning the game 34-14. 
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham senior quarterback Ty Thompson fires a deep pass to one of his receivers for a touchdown during the Steers’ 34-14 win Friday, Sept. 20 over Decatur.
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TC Gordon sports@grahamleader.com
The visiting Decatur Eagles held a lead for less than two minutes Friday night as the hometown Graham Steers controlled the game otherwise.
The Steers did all their damage in the first half as they went on to record a dominant 34-14 win over the Eagles.
All the scoring action occurred in the first half as the final score of the game remained the same as the halftime score. While the second half appeared to have been a defensive battle, Graham’s (3-1) confidence never wavered, and the Steers earned a huge win over a Class 4A Division I team in Decatur (1-3).
The visitors opened the game with about a four and a half minute scoring drive that ended with a 38-yard touchdown run to put them up 7-0.
About a minute and a half later, Graham evened up the score at 7-7 on a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ty Thompson to receiver Thomason Burkett.
“We started out a little bit slow. And honestly, that happens. Sometimes you can’t simulate the other team’s speed, the other team’s physicality, no matter how hard you try,” head coach Clay McChristian said. “So throughout all my years, we’ve given up a lot of first drive touchdowns, because you just got to get used to the speed. I thought our kids, they settled down, they didn’t panic, and we just came back and got into the game plan.”
Graham’s defense locked in on Decatur’s next possession and forced a three-and-out to give the offense the ball back. The Steers looked to establish the running game as receiver Harison Brockway, running back Rylan Monsey and Thompson all carried the ball on the drive.
Although they couldn’t find the end zone, Graham’s Ozzy Trejo booted a 37-yard field goal to give the Steers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the game.
Decatur’s offense continued to struggle in the opening quarter against Graham’s stout defense. Coming into this game, the Steers had pitched two shutouts in their three contests which came out to an average of 11.67 points per game.
After neither team got anything going on their next possessions, Decatur took over with a little more than two minutes left in the first quarter. And for the second week in a row, Graham linebacker Mason Milton had the defensive highlight with another pick-6 interception.
Milton dropped back into coverage and got a ball almost directly to him that he intercepted and carried 23 yards into the end zone where he crossed the goal line untouched for the defensive score.
“I’m afraid Mason’s going to want to move to (defensive back),” McChristian said. “But that’s Mason. He’s in the right spot, he does so much film study; he’s where he’s supposed to be.”
Graham held a 17-7 lead after the first quarter of play, and the second quarter provided as much excitement as the first.
The Steers opened the scoring again with a 1-yard touchdown run from Thompson after a long drive. But not long after that, the Eagles made something happen with a touchdown of their own using a quick offense that wore down Graham’s defense a bit.
After the kickoff set the Steers back deep in their own territory at the 18-yard line and holding a 24-14 lead, the team marched down the field with a series of runs and short passes. The offense crossed into Decatur territory, and at the 40-yard line the Steers hit paydirt again.
Thompson dropped back to pass, had to move up in the pocket a bit with rushers coming and flung a deep pass to receiver Brayden Riggins on a post route who made a diving catch in the end zone to secure the ball for a touchdown.
“I think we’re starting to see we can get the ball to a lot of different guys. (Opposing teams) can’t focus on just one,” McChristian said. “So it also comes back to the run game, and we did some good things. Now, we still got a lot to correct on it, but now I think people are starting to see that downfield, we can attack you.”
Near the end of the first half, Graham’s defense came through again as the Eagles were threatening to score. Decatur’s running back neared the goal line for a touchdown, but when he stretched the ball out, he fumbled and Steers defensive back Isaiah Flores picked it up and returned it all the way to the opposing 36-yard line.
That set up Graham’s final field goal, a 25-yard score in the final seconds of the half to give the team a 34-14 lead.
Throughout the second half, though nobody scored, the Steers’ defense continued to come through and Graham’s special teams shined, particularly punter Jace Gill. The junior pinned the visiting Eagles deep in their territory multiple times to help the Steers’ defense keep Decatur’s offense in check.
“That’s going to be one of those hidden stats that nobody really knows about,” McChristian said about having a strong punter like Gill. “...He can clearly put (the ball) down there, what a weapon to have.”
With the win, Graham moves to 3-1 on the season and will wrap up their non-district schedule at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 on the road at Lake Worth. The Bullfrogs come into the game 0-4, so the Steers will hope for a big win into district play.
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