Group 2A – State Semifinals
Radford dethrones last year’s State Champion Graham 22-10 in Semi’s
Christiansburg HS, Christiansburg, VA – Radford moved one step closer to a state championship with a dethroning of last year’s 2A Champion… the Graham G-Men. Radford got the party started first with an 2-yard TD pass from QB 7 Landen Clark (15/57,TD rush; 10/21,205,2TDs pass) to WR 18 Max Kanipe (3/47,TD) on fourth and goal in the first quarter. That’s been a common connection this year that Bobcat opponents haven’t been able to solve. Graham answered right back with their all-state RB 5 Ty’Drez Clements (30/138,TD) motoring in from 16-yards out around the right end. Clark did his version of ‘I can do anything you can do better’ with a QB draw up the middle, cutting left and then back right into the end zone from 19-yards out. Radford’s 2-point conversion made it 15-7.
Graham answered with a 24-yard field goal from K 12 Dillon Nash to make it 15-10 at the half. The second half was all about defense. Both sides dug in and the only score was a perfectly thrown deep-out catch and run from Clark to WR/DB 1 Sincere Taylor (4/152,TD) for the 66-yard big play. It was ’sincerely well done.’ Clark sealed the deal with his second interception of the day late in the game. Clark, the leader on and off the field, summed it up. “It’s a win. We’ll celebrate tonight and then get right back to it to get ready for Riverheads. The Gladiators defeated Poquoson in the other semifinal 37-7. Riverheads defeated George Wythe last year to win the Group 1A State Title. They moved up to Group 2A this year. Radford Head Coach Michael Crist was complementary of his team’s determination, “It was a game for grown men today. We told the kids at halftime, we just need to hang in there for one more punch, like a prize fight.” A fight it was and so will next week’s State Championship, as well. – Graham Whitaker
OFFENSE:
Rushing:
Radford– J.D. Grubb 12/38, Landen Clark 15/27, Colton Garner-Rollins 3/8 Graham – Ty Clements 30/138,TD, Chris Edwards 1/(-1), Dalton Roberts 2/(-6)
Passing:
Radford– Landen Clark 10/21,205,2TDs Graham – Dalton Roberts 20/38,146,2INTs
Receiving:
Radford– Sincere Taylor 4/152,TD, Max Kanipe 3/47,TD, Luke Woodard 3/0 Graham – Chris Edwards 13/92, Gabriel Lilly 2/20, Blake Graham 2/15, Cooper Hale 3/12, Jamel Floyd 1/6, Kaden Banks 1/6
Returns:
Radford– Gide Graham – Wal
Punting:
Radford– N/A Graham – Dylan Nash 6/21 yd avg
Scoring:
First Quarter-
Radford: Max Kanipe 2-yard TD catch from Landen Clark; Louis Webster PAT
Graham: Ty Clements 16-yard TD run; Dylan Nash PAT
Second Quarter-
Radford: Landen Clark 22-yard TD run; Sincere Taylor 3-yard 2ptr
Graham: Dylan Nash 24-yard FG
Third Quarter-
Radford: Sincere Taylor 31-yard TD catch from Landen Clark; Louis Webster PAT
Fourth Quarter-