Graham cross country excelled once again at a meet this week. Each of the varsity teams along with the Lady Blues’ junior varsity won first place Wednesday at the Dublin Dash. The varsity girls won their third consecutive meet to begin the season.
Sam Perkins was the top finisher by crossing the finish line ahead of any other runner in the varsity boys division. The captain finished with a time of 17:12.43 for first place.
Graham is still looking for their first win of 2018 after the Steers fell to Brownwood 47-26 at Newton Field on Friday.
The 0-3 start to the season marked the first time since 2006 the Steers have started the year with three straight losses.
Although the team is still searching for their first win, there are positives to take away. Graham has put together three decent halves of football in each of the three games. However, in all three games, the Steers have been on the wrong side of the scoreboard in the second half.
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.
If Graham is ever in an offensive lull, it possesses the front-row firepower to get itself back on track at any moment.
The Lady Blues slumped at times in Tuesday’s non-district match on the road at Clyde, but they were able to keep control at the net for the majority of the contest to defeat the Lady Bulldogs 3-1 (25-16, 14-25, 25-12, 25-10). Despite the four-set battle, each team won their respective set by at least nine points.
Seven different Graham players recorded kills in the match, including junior Chloe Menard’s double-double with 14 kills and 14 assists.
2018 may prove to be a special season for Graham High School cross country. The Lady Blues varsity team won their second straight meet to begin the new season.
Head coach Ky Graham’s varsity girls finished the race with five runners in the Top-15 to help the team take home another meet championship.
Kendra Williams’ time of 14:26.7 was good for fifth-place while Khloe Morris, Evie Griffin and Maria Hernandez finished inside the Top-10. Kaylee Little of Lipan finished as the top runner with a time of 13.42.7.
The Newcastle Ladycats volleyball team continues to have a stellar season under first-year head coach Paige Hauger.
The squad earned perhaps its best win of 2018 at the right moment with District 6-2A/1A play underway.
Newcastle went on the road Tuesday at Class 2A Albany and came away with a key win to even their league record.
“The team preserved in the second and third games despite Albany closing the lead,” said Hauger. “The girls continue to work hard not only at improving their skill level, but also their mental toughness has shown here lately.”
Two storied Texas high school football programs meet tonight seeking their first victory of the season. Graham and Brownwood have had a number of games decided until the very last play over the years. The series between the two schools dates back to 1951.
Twenty-one times from 1951 to 1977, the Steers found themselves as district opponents against some of Brownwood’s toughest teams. During that span, Graham managed only five wins to the talented Lions.
Despite another strong start for the second straight game, the Graham Steers were unable to sustain any sort of offensive rhythm in the second half on the road Friday night. Mineral Wells scored the final 20 points to take a 34-21 win over Graham.
After losing 13 in a row to the Steers, the Rams have now won two straight in the all-time series.
The Bryson Cowboys had little trouble in Friday’s 36-0 home victory over Notre Dame. The game was called in the second quarter after the Knights were down to just four available players. Both teams played five-onfive to begin the second quarter.
Quarterback Landon Stephens threw for 185 yards and three touchdowns by competing 8 of 9 passes.
Harley Hammond accounted for 168 yards of offense and two scores while T.J. Imotichey rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Chase Gilmore ran for three first-half touchdown touchdowns, but was held out for most of the second half due to an injury. The injury proved a major part in the outcome as the Steers offense were held to just 32 yards in the second half while Graham was outscored 20-0 by the Mineral Wells Rams in a 34-21 defeat at Ram Stadium on Friday night.
Without Gilmore in the backfield, the Graham offense behind sophomore quarterback Hunter Lanham had trouble moving the ball down the field.
