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[Lynn Burke]

Photographs from this game are in the photo gallery

Grafton cranks up its defense

By Jason Jordan | jjordan@dailypress.com

YORK — For Grafton defensive tackle Keith Person football is all about adjustments and logic.

When Poquoson quarterback Eric Nixon picked the Clippers’ secondary apart for 164 passing yards in the first half of Saturday night’s game at Bailey Field, Person figured that logically Nixon wouldn’t be as productive if he had less time to throw.

So in the second half, Grafton coach Kevin Montini moved Person to defensive end to help his pursuit angle.

By the end of the game, Person had sacked Nixon twice and added five more tackles to help the Clippers roll past Poquoson 44-20.

“The offensive tackles couldn’t cut me in the second half,” Person said. “I knew that if we could get him (Nixon) on the run more he wouldn’t be able to complete as many passes.”

Montini added: “That’s the way he (Person) needs to be playing. If he’s going to be a college prospect that’s how he’s got to play. He was big for us tonight defensively.”

The Clippers offense had no problems.

They struck first when Kyle Pelchy danced through the Islanders’ defense and dove over the goal line for a 15-yard touchdown, giving the Clippers a 7-0 lead with 3 minutes, 5 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Islanders answered on the first play of the second quarter when Nixon found Justin Bollinger sneaking behind the Clippers’ secondary for a 32-yard touchdown. That cut the lead to 7-6.

After two Grafton scores – Austin Sneath’s 40-yard run and Ryan Johansen’s 11-yard run – Nixon and Bollinger hooked up again for a 14-yard touchdown.

Grafton led 20-13 at the half.

Both teams’ offenses were effective in different ways in the first half.

The Islanders racked up 164 passing yards – 146 of which were to Bollinger – and the Clippers got 190 yards on the ground.

“We knew that they were going to pass the ball because we wanted to shutdown the run first, and we did that,” Montini said. “Poquoson executed very well, and the kid (Bollinger) is just a great receiver. We just made some adjustments.”

With Bollinger seeing double and triple coverage, Nixon hit Seth Austin for a 9-yard touchdown with 5:54 left in the third quarter to tie the score at 20.

Sean Downing picked up a fumbled snap and hit Lorenzo Sheppard in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown to extend the lead, 27-20 with 2:01 left in the third quarter.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Downing dove over the goal line for a 2-yard touchdown to keep the game out of reach.

Montini said that at halftime the Clippers changed their coverage to key in on Bollinger.

That worked.

Bollinger didn’t have a catch in the second half, the Clippers held Nixon to just 34 second-half passing yards and picked him off twice.

Sneath, who carried the ball 14 times for 69 yards and scored a touchdown, had to drop back into coverage from his linebacker position to help check Bollinger in the second half.

“I just bumped him and tried to put him on the sideline,” Sneath said. “No doubt about it he’s a playmaker, but we shut him down in the second half.”

Montini added: “He’s (Bollinger) a really good ball player. I challenged our secondary and told them they had to step up. I was happy with the way we responded in the second half.”

GRAFTON 44, POQUOSON 20
Poquoson 0 13 7 0 20
Grafton 7 13 7 17 44

G -- Pelchy 15 run (Brown kick)
P-- Nixon 32 pass to Bollinger (kick failed)
G -- Sneath 40 run (kick blocked)
G -- Johnansen 11 run (Brown kick)
P -- Nixon 14 pass to Bollinger (Nixon kick)
P -- Nixon 9 pass to Austin (Nixon kick)
G -- Downing 18 pass to Sheppard (Brown kick)
G -- Downing 2 run (Brown kick)
G -- Brown 13 FG
G -- Barefoot 15 run (Brown kick)
P G
First downs 8 13
Rushes-yards 24-33 47-276
Passing yards 198 59
Comp-Att-Int 7-18-2 4-8-1
Penalties-yards 8-65 6-50
Fumbles-lost 3-0 5-1
Punts-avg. 5-32.5 1-27

[BayRvrDis1]

Grafton stymied the run. However, their pass coverage was less than desirable in the first half. Adjustments were made in the second half and the defense turned in a great performance, shutting down both the Islanders rushing and passing games. Person did an awesome job pressuring the QB. Had Grafton turned in that type of effort the entire game, everyone would be reading about a shutout this morning! Although the Clippers are banged up, they came away with a big win. Johansen played a solid game - if he gets more touches, passes and rushes, he can pose a greater offensive threat. Pelchy and Sneath were consistent - that is a good sign at this stage of the season. Ward and Sheppard made some huge tough catches. And, Barefoot did well filling in for Bayse. One weakness was the fumbles, five of them, one lost. Had those fumbles gone the other way, it could have been a whole different ballgame! The return of Cibrin should be a big help to the secondary. With Bayse returning, the Clippers should do good at South Hampton. They need to focus on one game at a time. I hope their intensity level rises.....the district crown is well within their reach!

[Clipper_Fan]

I agree, the second half adjustments were the key. Poquoson had momentum going into halftime and when Grafton took away the passing game it took it away Mr. Mo from Poquoson.

Great picture in the paper of CJ Wards catch! Clearly inbounds with possession of the ball. You could hear the complaining about the refs call all the way across the field. What would a game be without complaining about the Refs?

[AnotherGraftonDad]

The Grafton coaching staff is doing a great job getting the guys ready and also calling an effective game along with continuing to teach our boys how to play. Even with the big plays by the Bulls, the team played well and the coaches continued to make adjustments. I also want to compliment the refs who have been consistent in every game so far this year. I don't think anyone expects perfection but in past years I've seen some strange calls, some of which impacted the game's result. Overall, it was a well-played, well-coached game which the refs kept in control despite some emotional players. I imagine our pass defense will get some more work next Friday against Southampton with their big quarterback.

[sportsfan9]

Grafton did great job on adjustments the second half. They took away Poquoson's weapon of Nixon and Bollinger. Why didn't Poquson adjust? They never seem to have what it takes in the second half. I blame that on coaching. When something isn't working, you need to adjust. Poquson has been in every game at half time this year, but yet loses it in the second half. The other team adjusts and Poquson doesn't. Its that simple.

[BRD25836]

Originally Posted by AnotherGraftonDad

The Grafton coaching staff is doing a great job getting the guys ready and also calling an effective game along with continuing to teach our boys how to play. Even with the big plays by the Bulls, the team played well and the coaches continued to make adjustments. I also want to compliment the refs who have been consistent in every game so far this year. I don't think anyone expects perfection but in past years I've seen some strange calls, some of which impacted the game's result. Overall, it was a well-played, well-coached game which the refs kept in control despite some emotional players. I imagine our pass defense will get some more work next Friday against Southampton with their big quarterback.

Have to agree about the officiating, I do my fair share of calling out bad calls, so I must say the offciating in this game was not perfect but it was the best I've seen this year. They seem to be getting their act together. Kudos, but keep it up!

[AnotherGraftonDad]

Originally Posted by sportsfan9

Grafton did great job on adjustments the second half. They took away Poquoson's weapon of Nixon and Bollinger. Why didn't Poquson adjust? They never seem to have what it takes in the second half. I blame that on coaching. When something isn't working, you need to adjust. Poquson has been in every game at half time this year, but yet loses it in the second half. The other team adjusts and Poquson doesn't. Its that simple.

I have to disagree with you - I think the Bulls coaches tried to make some adjustments. Look how those all out blitzes affected our offense coming out of the gate. I really think it came down to wearing out your guys. They had a lot of heart but most of the bigger ones were playing both ways and we were able to play a different offensive and defensive line. In addition, except for your #74, you were giving away 30 to 100 lbs a man.

The Bulls are going to win quite a few games over the next two months, IMO, assuming they can stay focused and show the heart they did on Saturday night. There was a lot of intensity and not many cheap shots on the field (that I saw or was told about). Good luck.