Tim Hayes
SALEM, Va. - To gauge how dire the situation was for the Strasburg Rams in Saturday's VHSL Class 2 state football title game, all you had to do was witness a single play made by Graham's Gage Palmer.
A vicious hit that left everybody in Salem Stadium oohing and aahing.
A lick so spectacular that video of it began making the rounds on social media not long after the game concluded.
A blow that showed the Strasburg side just what kind of defense it was facing in these badasses from Bluefield.
A tackle so tenacious it fueled the other 10 guys on the field wearing a Graham uniform.
The Rams already trailed 14-0 and were running just their second offensive play from scrimmage when it happened.
Two quick scoring drives directed by Graham quarterback Dalton Roberts and a lost fumble on a kickoff return had put the Rams in a massive hole that might as well have been 140-0 against Graham's dogged, determined, dominant defense.
People are also reading... HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS: Patrick Henry boys power past Abingdon in statement-making win Hokies vs. Minnesota in less than appetizing Mayo Bowl HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Big Mike Horton has big role as strength coach for Graham G-Men HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Wytheville, Marion, E&H among stops on football journey of Grayson County coach Stephen James TUESDAY'S HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Reed Miller and Zoe Hale (Tennessee High), Cheyanna Davis (Twin Valley), Jayden McKinney (Marion), Mike Reece (Lebanon), Alayna McNulty (Honaker), Kylee Dancy (Chilhowie) among many standouts HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: 2024 All-Region 1D Team HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: 2024 All-Hogoheegee District HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Jamey Hughes steps down after seven seasons helming Rural Retreat Indians More Chicken: Volunteer Parkway is location for new Zaxby's FRIDAY'S HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP: Colton Woodward (Holston), Kinley Huff (Lee High), Hayden Hall (Marion), Azzy Hammons (J.I. Burton), Kam Bostic (Union), Anna Summers (Castlewood) among standouts Restoring Route 58: Work is underway to bring back damaged roadway in Washington County VHSL PLAYOFF PRIMER: Graham G-Men fond of the finals Four face charges after Bristol drug investigation HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Purple Power for Strasburg Rams entering state finals vs. Graham MONDAY'S HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS ROUNDUP: Blake Ketron (Abingdon), Jalynn Rogers (Rye Cove), Lukas Dotson and Chey Davis (Twin Valley), Abbie Jordan and Ethan Collins (Wise Central), Kinsey Bradley (Holston) among stars
Strasburg's Linkyn Bosworth gained seven yards on Strasburg's first play and then Palmer lowered the boom.
Takhi Coates of the Rams - the Region 2B offensive player of the year with 1,369 rushing yards on his ledger entering the game - took a toss from quarterback Brayden Hough and was met instantly by Palmer as the ball-carrier's head snapped back and he went flying backwards.
You could say the diminutive playmaker was de-cleated.
Mowed down.
Leveled.
Demolished.
A 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker, Palmer was unblocked, unimpeded and undeterred as he trucked the Ram for a four-yard loss.
"He lined up outside and looked at me and widened out," Palmer said. "We'd been running that play all week in practice and knew that was the only thing that could hurt us. I tried to shut it down early and it definitely worked."
Even though it occurred with just 4:42 remaining in the first quarter, it was the defining play in Graham's 31-8 championship-clinching win that capped a perfect 15-0 season.
The hit of the year in the biggest game of the year.
"That changed the momentum of everything," said Graham defensive back Blake Graham. "All the momentum they thought they had - it was gone."
A pad-popping play that you prepare for in practice.
"Hey, that hit was awesome," Graham defensive lineman Omarri Hill said. "I saw [Gage Palmer] fly by and blow it up in the backfield. I was so excited and so was everybody else. When you see one guy do that, we all try to do that, and we all get on the same page and just go."
The head-knocking hit also got in the heads of the opposition.
"That's a big play for them, that quick pitch," said Graham defensive coordinator Dennis "Snake" Palmer. "I don't think they ran it again after that."
Strasburg had a mere two first downs and 29 yards of total offense through two quarters as Graham built a 24-0 halftime lead.
"The first half we played really, really well against a really tough offense that likes to spread you out and use a lot of misdirection," Dennis Palmer said. "But our kids did a good job of staying disciplined and being where they needed to be."
That seemed to be the case all season as Graham made life miserable for opposing offenses. Quarterbacks had quandaries, running backs had it rough, receivers were rocked and offensive linemen were overpowered when facing the G-Men.
That D-Line anchored by Omarri Hill was mostly impenetrable, the linebackers were fast and aggressive and the secondary snagged a bunch of interceptions.
"It's one of the best [defenses] we've had," Dennis Palmer said. "And probably the fastest we've had. We like to gang tackle and get a lot of people around the ball."
Strasburg did avoid the shutout, getting in the end zone in the third quarter and the Rams managed to accrue 199 total yards when all was said and done. Still, this was a team averaging 34.6 points per game entering Saturday being manhandled.
"Their defense is really, really good," said Strasburg coach Tripp Lamb. "They put pressure on you in a lot of spots."
Join the club coach.
Lamb sang the same chorus echoed by other gridiron bosses who had to play against Graham in 2024, a group that also included Virginia High's Derrick Patterson, Union's Travis Turner, George Wythe's Brandon Harner, Fred Simon of the Bluefield Beavers, Galax's Shane Allen, Marion's Jack Ginn, Lebanon's Hunter Norris, Pulaski County's Cam Akers, Tazewell's J'me Harris, Ronnie Davis of Richlands, Lee High's Joey Carroll and Glenvar's Kevin Clifford.
Graham finished with six shutouts and allowed a total of 107 points in 15 games.
Only 14 touchdowns were scored on the G-Men all season and several of those came against second stringers in blowouts when Graham had big leads. Glenvar, in a 28-24 state semifinal loss to Graham, was the only team to score three TDs in a game this season against the Southwest District powerhouse.
The oft-repeated cliché goes that defense wins championships. Can't argue against that claim in this case.
"We play together and play for each other," Hill said. "We do our jobs, and we play in sync. It allows us to play the way we do."
It was the second state crown in three years and the sixth overall for the Bluefield bunch. Meanwhile, Strasburg now as an 0-5 all-time record in the VHSL football finals.
The area's preeminent program, Graham has won 55 of its 58 games in a fantastic four-year stretch.
"It's definitely not easy," Hill said. "It might look easy, but it's far from it. Week in and week out, we played great teams who gave it their all. We're fortunate enough to be good enough to come out on top."
Strasburg attempted to mount a last-ditch scoring drive, but Blake Graham came up with an interception in the end zone with five seconds remaining on the clock.
"I wanted to take it all the way and have a party in the end zone," Graham said. "But I'm just glad I got it."
So, the defense ended its special season by forcing a turnover after the unit got another day at the office started with a bang thanks to Gage Palmer.
Fitting.
"[A hit like that] just sets the tone of the game and everyone follows around it," Gage Palmer said. "I'm just glad to get the win."
Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter
Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Tim Hayes Author facebook Author twitter Author email Follow Tim Hayes Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today