Posted 1:10 am Saturday, December 12, 2009
Graham Ousts Pittsburg, 27-20
By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer
MANSFIELD -- The Pittsburg Pirates had one comeback in them, but not two, and that proved to be the difference.
Staff Writer
MANSFIELD -- The Pittsburg Pirates had one comeback in them, but not two, and that proved to be the difference.
Pittsburg rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit to take a 20-19 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Graham responded with a touchdown drive to take the lead back, 27-20.
The Pirates drove to Graham's 20, but a sack and penalty stopped them there. On fourth-and-18 with 20 seconds remaining, Pittsburg quarterback Mitch Manley fired a pass into the end zone, but the receiver was triple-covered and could not haul it in, ending the game.
Pittsburg closed out a historic season with a 12-2 record, while Graham (14-1) advanced to face either Carthage or La Grange next week in the 3A Division II state championship game.
"To go from really bad a few years ago to the state semifinals is a great honor," said Pittsburg head coach Robert Manley. "They set the tone for the school and the program, and I am really proud of them."
Mitch Manley completed 26 of 46 passes for 283 yards in the loss. He also rushed for a touchdown.
He had one completion stopped at the 1-yard line as time ran out before halftime. Another pass was dropped in the end zone.
"He played a great game and really all of our kids played a great game," Manley said about his son. "I told our kids that no one play or player (determined the outcome). It's a team effort, win or lose and we just didn't get it done in crucial time."
Graham quarterback Case McCoy, brother of Heisman candidate Colt, passed for 207 yards, highlighted by a 42-yard scoring strike to Spencer Sims. McCoy also ran in a two-point conversion. Cameron Bailey led the Steers on the ground with 69 yards and scored three touchdowns.
McCoy led Graham to a 19-3 lead at halftime, but a lost fumble, an interception and muffed punt by the Steers allowed Pittsburg to take a one-point lead. The lost fumble led to a 3-yard scoring run by Manley. The interception yielded a 7-yard scoring run by Ted Burns.
The muffed kick gave Pittsburg possession at the Graham 9-yard line with 40 seconds left in the third quarter. The Pirates went backwards, but a personal foul gave Pittsburg first-and-goal. Pittsburg looked ready to score on a 1-yard plunge by Burns, but two Steers defenders met him at the goal line and kept him out.
Pittsburg was going to go for it, but a delay of game penalty brought on Martinez for a 23-yard kick to make it 20-19 with 8:53 left.
Graham was stopped on its ensuing drive, but as Pittsburg took over, it was held to three-and-out, and a bad snap went over the punter's head. He recovered to kick it, but it reached the 27-yard line for a minus-2-yard kick.
The Steers took advantage of their opportunity with McCoy carrying for 18 yards on first down and Bailey cashing in from two yards away for the game-winner.
-- -- --
Graham 27, Pittsburg 20
Class 3A Division II Semifinal
Graham 27, Pittsburg 20
Class 3A Division II Semifinal
At Newsom Stadium, Mansfield
Pittsburg 3 0 7 3 -- 20
Pittsburg 3 0 7 3 -- 20
Graham 7 12 0 8 -- 27
First Quarter
First Quarter
GRA -- Cameron Bailey 14 run (Karl Baker kick), 10:55.
PITT -- FG Saul Martinez 32, 6:20.
Second Quarter
Second Quarter
GRA -- Bailey 4 run (kick failed), 4:55.
GRA -- Spencer Sims 42 pass from Case McCoy (kick failed).
GRA -- Spencer Sims 42 pass from Case McCoy (kick failed).
Third Quarter
PITT -- Mitch Manley 3 run (Martinez kick), 5:26.
PITT -- Mitch Manley 3 run (Martinez kick), 5:26.
PITT -- Ted Burns 7 run (Martinez kick).
Fourth Quarter
Fourth Quarter
PITT -- FG Martinez 23, 8:53.
GRA -- Bailey 2 run (McCoy run), 2:07.
GRA -- Bailey 2 run (McCoy run), 2:07.
EST. ATT.
-- 9,000.
PIT GRA
First Downs 22 17
-- 9,000.
PIT GRA
First Downs 22 17
Rushes-Yards 35-73 20-100
Passing Yards 281 207
Passing Yards 281 207
Comp.-Att.-Int. 27-47-0 10-23-1
Punts-Avg. 3-24 3-24.3
Punts-Avg. 3-24 3-24.3
Fumbles-Lost 4-3 2-2
Penalties-Yards 5-39 3-35
Penalties-Yards 5-39 3-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Pittsburg, Ted Burns 26-69, Mitch Manley 8-(minus 7), Nadell Richardson 1-11.
RUSHING -- Pittsburg, Ted Burns 26-69, Mitch Manley 8-(minus 7), Nadell Richardson 1-11.
Graham,
Cameron Bailey 12-60, Case McCoy 6-29, Spencer Sims 2-11.
Cameron Bailey 12-60, Case McCoy 6-29, Spencer Sims 2-11.
PASSING -- Pittsburg,
Mitch Manley 26-46-0 283, Chris Brown 1-1-0 (minus 2).
Mitch Manley 26-46-0 283, Chris Brown 1-1-0 (minus 2).
Graham,
Case McCoy 10-23-1 207.
RECEIVING -- Pittsburg,
Case McCoy 10-23-1 207.
RECEIVING -- Pittsburg,
Andy Dube 7-76, Chris Brown 5-70, Demarcus Armstrong 5-54, Nadell Richardson 5-51, Ted Burns 3-19, Bear Bradley 1-10, Mitch Manley 1-(minus 2).
Graham,
Garrett Spears 4-58, Corey Groves 3-37, Dylan Fulford 1-43, Spencer Sims 2-69.
Garrett Spears 4-58, Corey Groves 3-37, Dylan Fulford 1-43, Spencer Sims 2-69.
