On Friday night, the Graves County football team defeated Warren Central, to make it to the first regional championship in the school’s 28 years. Graves previously beat Greenwood to advance.

After one of the best games of the year, the Eagles continue to “leave their mark” winning in double over time, 28-27. Coach Lance Gregory said, “The team was very excited. Football is year round, we work constantly in the off-season for moments like that and its great when all that hard work pays off.”

The first half was unusual Eagles: very quiet. The game remained scoreless until late in the second quarter when Warren Central got into the end zone.

Walking in at the half, the Eagles were not put down. The Eagles’ first points didn’t come until the third quarter, on a 24-yard run, from none other than Cody Crider. With the score tied at 7-7, Warren Central answered back with a 99-yard kick off return, going up 14-7. During the fourth quarter, the only points scored came from Crider, on a six-yard touchdown run.

As time expired, the score was tied 14 all. Graves was the first team to put points on the board during overtime. Warren Central got a chance to score and put up six points on the board, and then kicked the extra point through. Because it was overtime, Warren Central got the ball back and scored another touchdown.

But after a missed field goal, and the score 21-27, Graves got possession. On a rushing touchdown, quarterback Peyton Puckett ran for 10 yards, tying the score at 27 all. Possibly the biggest points of the game, came from an extra point kick by Hector Garcia. “There were a lot of big plays. A lot of defensive plays. Jordan Tyler had a big interception and Cody Crider had some big runs, so it was a lot of big plays there that helped us win the game. And Hector’s kick at the end was very big,” Gregory said Monday.

The extra point put the Eagles ahead 28-27, for the win, and an advance to the regional finals.

In Graves County’s 28 years as a school, no team or coach has ever made it this far in the playoffs. Gregory said, “It feels great because we’re the first team in the history of the program to make it to the regional championship. It’s a big accomplishment. I’m happy for the players and the people involved with the program: the alumni, community members and student body.”

Next week, the Eagles will take on arguably the best team in the state, Bowling Green High School. Gregory commented saying, “We have to work to try and get better. Practice and prepare as hard as you can and not worry about who you’re playing. You have to play the best you can and try and keep things close, and maybe have an opportunity to win in the fourth quarter.”

The 2012 5A state champions, Bowling Green Purples, will come to Eagle Field, a perfect 11-0, after defeating Christian County on Friday night. When asked about playing at home rather than on the road, Gregory explained, “You always want to be at home. You’re more comfortable and you don’t have to worry about traveling and getting on a bus or taking care of all the details that have to go into an away game. They [Bowling Green] have to travel two and a half hours, so hopefully that will have some effect on them.”

After winning back-to-back district championships, and making it to the regional championship, the Eagles have had a momentous season. “There are a lot of milestones still yet to meet. But we did meet some with two district championships in a roll. We won the second round of the playoffs and want to keep moving forward. We want to win a regional championship and eventually a state championship,” Gregory said. The Eagles are leaving their mark one win at a time.