Published: December 05, 2008 12:17 am            

On the brink

Bearcats look to cap year with state title

FAIRMONT — Surprise probably isn’t the best word to describe it, but Mark Yoho and his Grafton coaching staff likely didn’t figure to be in this position six months ago.

For one, there were too many questions that had to be answered after the retirement of longtime coach Mike Skinner. How would the Bearcats players — and, most importantly, the team’s 22 seniors — take to Yoho? How would they adjust to the team’s new offense?

But now it’s early December, and such concerns are long gone. Grafton has a firm grasp of Yoho’s spread attack, has gotten big plays all season from its defense and now is a mere four quarters from a state title.

The only thing standing in the way is No. 8 Magnolia (10-3), tonight’s Class AA championship game opponent at Wheeling Island Stadium and the lone school to beat the Bearcats this season.

In that game, a 29-24 loss in the regular-season finale, Blue Eagles sophomore quarterback Justin Fox threw for 351 yards, and the squad’s defense put the clamps on the Bearcats’ running game.

While second-seeded Grafton (12-1) is sure to make some alterations schematically, Yoho, a North Marion graduate, has preached an even-keeled approach — focus on one play at a time, don’t make the game bigger than it is, etc. — throughout the playoffs.

Judging from the results, the postseason pressure hasn’t gotten in their heads. The Bearcats have reached the 40-point plateau in each of their three previous playoff victories, including last Friday’s 42-12 semifinal rout of No. 3 Wayne.

Running back Damon Waters led the way with 172 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries. He added a receiving score.

The senior was held to 28 yards in the regular-season game with Magnolia.

Grafton is searching for its fourth state title and first since 1984. It last advanced to the finals in 1997, where the team fell to Bluefield.

Magnolia, which won its lone state crown in 1964, suffered consecutive title-game losses in 1992 and 1993.

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

        

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