Steers defense struggles in loss to Lions

Seeking their first won of 2018, the Steers simply had no answer for Brownwood dual-threat quarterback Tommy Bowden. The Lions used the arm of Bowden to take a 47-26 win on the road, the victory was the first of the season for head coach Sammy Burnett.  The Graham offense and quarterback Hunter Lanham were able to move the ball down the field at will, but led for just two minutes, sixteen seconds in the game.

Brownwood opened the game by scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run, but the Steers led by quarterback Hunter Lanham answered. Lanham led the offense on a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended on a Chase Gilmore 32-yard run. Both teams missed the extra-point attempt.

The Lions second drive ended in a punt. Graham's Klayton Read and Landon Hebert were able to break through the line and sack quarterback Tommy Bowden on second down. 

Lanham put together his most efficent drive of the season when he led a 10-play, 90-yard drive. Facing a fourth-and-goal, Lanham rolled to his right and hit fellow sophomore Raider Horn for the score, giving the Steers a short 13-6 advantage.

Bowden needed just two plays to even the score afer a short punt. Ian Moreno darted 35 yards past three Graham defenders for the game-tying score with 6:37 remaining in the second quarter.

Following the first Steers punt of the night, Brownwood (2-1) took the lead thanks to the arm of Bowden, which resulted in a 33-yard Ben Kallman catch-and-score.

Gilmore scored his seventh touchdown of the season and second of the night on a 2-yard scamper to even the score at 20 with 1:27 left before half. The biggest play of the drive came when Lanham found Gilmore over the middle of the field for a 35-yard completion. 

Brownwood attempted one late score, but a pass broken up by Tristin Cromer and a sack by Corey Ballew resulted in a turnover on downs with 12 seconds left, but the Steers had little time to work with before the halftime buzer sounded.

The penalities by the Graham defense loomed large in the second half. After a Graham punt to begin the half, Brownwood took a 27-20 lead on a 15-yard TD, thanks in large part to two Graham penalties that resulted in a Lion first-down.

Daniel Gilbertson brought the Steers within a point after he found pay dirt on a 35-yard completion from Lanham. After a missed extra point, Graham trailed by a score of 27-26 with 5:38 left in the third. However, the defense was unable to hold Bowden and the Lions off the field. Brownwood scored on four of their five posessions in the second-half  Lanham threw two late fourth quarter incepcetions that turned into points to make the score seem father than the actual game indicated.

The Steers (0-3) will get another shot at a victory next Friday at Decatur.