Published: November 21, 2008 12:38 am            

Grafton hosts Ravenswood tonight

GRAFTON — Step 1 has been completed.

The Grafton Bearcats bounced back from losing their final game of the regular season to defeat rival Philip Barbour 41-16 in the opening round of the state playoffs.

Now Ravenswood blocks No. 2 Grafton’s path to a Class AA state title.

The No. 7 Red Devils, who defeated Webster County in the first round, will visit McKinney Field tonight for a 7:30 matchup with the winner moving on to the state semifinals.

The two teams had only one common opponent this season — Tyler Consolidated.

The Knights were one of only two teams to defeat Ravenswood during the regular season, 21-6.

The week before that game the Bearcats humbled Tyler Consolidated with a 53-21 rout.

The Bearcats are led by the two-headed offensive attack of quarterback Cameron Gallaher and running back Damon Waters.

Add to that receiver Asa Coplin, and Grafton has one of the most explosive offenses in Class AA in 2008.

Gallaher and Waters combined for 242 yards on the ground and three touchdowns last week against Philip Barbour.

Gallaher also had 73 yards passing with two scores, one of which when to Waters for 24 yards.

“It’s nice to have both of them back there,” Grafton head coach Mark Yoho said. “When you focus on one of them it leaves the field open for the other.”

The Bearcat defense also shone in the win over Philip Barbour.

After the Colts scored and then surprised Grafton with an onside kick that they recovered near midfield, the Bearcats responded with a sack and two more stops to force PB to punt.

The Bearcats dominated from then on.

Grafton held Philip Barbour to 232 total yards of offense and intercepted six passes in the game.

Tonight the Bearcats will face a Red Devils offense that can move the ball effectively both on the ground and in the air.

The winner of the contest will move another step closer to playing for the Class AA title a few weeks from now at Wheeling Island Stadium.

E-mail Mike Bowen at mbowen@timeswv.com.

        

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