Published: November 30, 2008 12:57 am            

Far from typical

Gallaher’s hard-nosed style defined with one play

FAIRMONT — The play, a 40-yard run on a drive that ended in a blocked field goal, will go down as a mere footnote in Grafton’s ever-growing list of memories this season.

For Cameron Gallaher, it was another big gain in a year full of them. But it also, in the 20-odd seconds it took to come to life Friday night, crystallized all the Bearcats’ standout is capable of with the ball in his hands.

After gaining 10 yards on Wayne’s defense to open the second-quarter series, Gallaher took the next snap looking to run again. That idea seemed doomed from the get-go, as the senior quarterback was met by a defender almost as soon he made his first move.

Then something strange, something most high school players just can’t do, happened.

Gallaher, as if channeling Ben Roethlisberger, shook the tackler, broke into the clear and down the left sideline.

“He’s not the type of kid that’s going to run past you,” Grafton running back Damon Waters, who rushed for 172 yards and scored four times in the 42-12 Class AA state semifinal victory, said. “He’s not running a 4.3 (40-yard dash).”

That’s not necessary when you’re the rare breed of quarterback who invites contact rather than avoids it.

Instead of bouncing out of bounds and settling for around a 25-yard gain, Gallaher cut to his right in the middle of the field, breaking several tackles along the way before finally being dragged down at the Wayne 28.

He also, his head down and legs churning all the while, shed tacklers during a few short gains. Gallaher finished with 82 yards rushing, 75 passing and three scores, two though the air.

“He’s got a motor that never stops,” Waters said. “He just makes plays. He broke three or four tackles on one play. It was the hardest five yards I’ve ever seen.”

Gallaher, a two-time defending state champion wrestler who didn’t play football last season, has amassed more than 2,500 yards of total offense and 40 touchdowns (23 passing, 17 rushing) running Grafton’s spread offense.

The No. 2 Bearcats will face eighth-seeded Magnolia, a 13-7 winner over James Monroe in Saturday’s semifinal game, Friday at Wheeling Island Stadium.

Needless to say, Gallaher will be leading the way as Grafton tries to avenge its only loss of the season and bring home its first state title since 1984.

“Cameron’s a leader,” Grafton first-year coach Mark Yoho said. “He’s a winner. He showed that (Friday) and made a lot of big plays in crucial situations.

“I’m glad he’s on my side. That’s what I tell him all the time.”

E-mail Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com.

        

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