Senior QB Accounts For Six TDs In 40-20 Region Win
by John Hunt
posted September 6, 2008
Josh Blake was just a little too much for the Silverdale Seahawks Friday night.
Blake rushed for three touchdowns and he threw three TD passes as well to lead the Grace Academy Golden Eagles to an impressive 40-20 win at Washington Hills.
Grace finished with 394 total yards with the talented Golden Eagle quarterback accounting for 298.
Blake, who has one of the strongest arms in the Chattanooga area, also has two of the quickest feet.
He has the ability to turn a busted play into a big gainer and he also has deceptive speed. When the ball is in his hands, there’s always a chance for a big play.
He had several Friday night.
His evening began with a 9-yard pass to Stefen Graham before racing 58 yards on a keeper to give the Golden Eagles a quick lead while the capacity crowd was still looking for a place to sit.
Blake added another TD on a 1-yard plunge as the Golden Eagles built a 14-0 lead on their first two possessions.
Silverdale had gambled by going for it on fourth and 2 from their own 29 on their opening possession.
Grace capitalized by taking five plays to cover that 29 yards with Blake getting the final yard.
It stretched to 20-0 when Blake hit a wide-open Graham on the second play of the second quarter for a 61-yard scoring bomb.
Graham broke from the line of scrimmage in a full sprint and was all alone when Blake's perfectly-thrown spiral hit him in mid-stride as he raced for the score.
Silverdale had its longest drive of the game following the kickoff when the Seahawks marched 83 yards in 13 plays to score.
Bullish Aaron Sterzik rammed his way into the end zone from the 4.
The score was 20-6 at the break.
Silverdale had another impressive drive to start the second half.
Edgar Montgomery returned the kickoff back to the 42 and the Seahawks marched 58 yards in nine plays – all on the ground – with Sterzik covering the final 14 on a play off right tackle.
Blake found Fuquan Harper on a 6-yard scoring pass as Grace maintained a comfortable 27-12 lead after three quarters.
He hooked up with Harper again midway through the fourth stanza on a 32-yard TD pass as the lead stretched to 22 points at 34-12.
Silverdale quarterback Scott Paone accounted for the Seahawks final score with his most heroic effort of the game.
Scrambling for his life with plenty of Grace defenders giving chase, he hurled a 43-yard bomb to Dominique Dawson right as he got leveled.
Not fazed by the crushing tackle, the sophomore Paone then ran for the two-point conversion.
Silverdale attempted an onside kick, but the ball didn’t travel the required 10 yards, so Grace took over at the Silverdale 45.
Cody Cross lost a yard on the first play before Blake scored on a 46-yard sprint up the middle to conclude the scoring.
“I thought we grew up defensively tonight,” said Grace coach Mark Mowery afterward.
“We gave up too many big plays in the first half, but we got more physical as the game went on and we pretty much stuffed them in the second half. I’m pleased with how hard and how tough we played.
“We wanted to control the ball in the second half and we did a good job of that as we ran the ball down their throats.
"We also did a good job of taking care of the football as we didn’t have any turnovers,” the coach continued.
“Josh (Blake) gets too excited at times, but he has the ability to score any time he touches the ball. When you get him running north and south, he can get to the end zone in a hurry,” Mowery praised.
Blake was outstanding with his running and passing, but he was quick to give praise where praise was due.
“First of all, I must give God the glory for allowing me the ability to play football.
"I can’t say enough about my offensive line as they blocked great all night,” he said, calling Colby Jacocks, Seth Box, Chris Carter and Matt Ryan by name.
“My receivers also did a great job of catching the ball. I saw a hole on that first running play and took it. Later in the game, I saw the same thing on the same play.
"This is a big win for our program. Getting a region win over Silverdale is always nice,” the six-foot, 185-pound senior added.
Silverdale coach John Allen was apologizing to his team at midfield following the game.
“The assistant coaches did a good job, but my coaching wasn’t very good and I apologize to you for that. That fake punt was a bad call on my part,” he said.
“I did see some good things out there as our effort was there. Of course, Josh Blake is a pretty good quarterback, but we’ll get better,” Allen concluded with a smile.
Grace, improving to 2-1 with the victory, finished with 255 yards on the ground and 139 through the air.
Blake gained 159 yards rushing on 13 attempts while Cross finished with 92 yards on 13 carries.
Harper was the leading receiver for Grace with three grabs for 44 yards while Graham had two catches for 70.
The Golden Eagles finished with 13 first downs.
The Seahawks finished with 287 total yards, including 210 on the ground.
Sterzik was the workhorse with 136 yards on 25 trips while Paone had a net 37 yards on 10 carries.
Paone completed six of 16 passes for 77 yards.
Dawson only had one reception, but it was the big one covering 43 yards.
Montgomery had three catches for 19 yards while Chris Goodine had two grabs for the other 15.
Grace will be on the road again next week to face unbeaten Boyd-Buchanan while Silverdale has next Friday off before hosting the Copper Basin Cougars on Sept. 19 at their brand new stadium.
Grace 14 6 7 13 -- 40
Silverdale 0 6 6 8 -- 20
Grace – Josh Blake 58 run (Jefferson Walker kick);
Grace – Blake 1 run (Walker kick);
Grace – Stefen Graham 61 pass from Blake (kick failed);
Silverdale – Aaron Sterzik 4 run (kick failed);
Silverdale – Sterzik 14 run (run failed);
Grace – Fuquan Harper 6 pass from Blake (Walker kick);
Grace – Harper 32 pass from Blake (Walker kick);
Silverdale – Dominique Dawson 43 pass from Scott Paone (Paone run);
Grace – Blake 46 run (pass failed).
(Email John Hunt at tnmoose2002@aol.com)
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