Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 6, 1995 TAG: 9510060043
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Happily for Graham, the Shawsville High quarterback, the better arrived a season late.
Graham, a junior, was one of those youngsters for whom coach Darrell Sutherland could ill afford to allow a leisurely development. Youngsters 6-foot-2, 180-pounds who have two quick feet and one strong arm are not readily available most years in Shawsville.
So Sutherland did what he must this past season. He handed the football to Graham. Even if he was a sophomore.
Dues? The big kid paid premium rates, especially when it came to throwing the ball.
As the Shawnees were struggling along at 1-9 for the 1994 campaign, Graham was going 95-for-242 for 914 yards. The value of the yardage to his team was undeniable, but the touchdown tosses were down (six) and the pickoffs were up (17).
``The guys stood behind me when my confidence was low,' he said. ``The receivers especially helped me.''
The guys are still picking him up now. He's reciprocating, too.
Graham has completed 38 of 78 (three interceptions in four games) for 456 yards.
Fourteen games have turned into an action-packed career even if some of the chills and thrills were not of the pleasant variety.
``I didn't realize how tough it was going to be to play on the varsity,'' Graham said.
A season-opening game against eventual state Group A Division 1 semifinalist Narrows was a richly educational session last year.
``I realized then what I was going to be in for,'' he said.
If Graham was greatly disturbed by any of this, there were no ready indications.
``Chris' greatest attribute is his poise,'' Sutherland said. ``He is very, very calm.''
You have to wonder how he could be after facing the kind of defensive pressure he has. Maybe it's because he can exact his revenge when he buckles his chinstrap to play free safety.
``He hits like he's heavier than he is,'' Sutherland said. ``You don't like to play your quarterback on defense, but that's the risk you take when you have the number of players [15] we do.''
You can't play scared they say. Graham has been in the line of fire as long as he's played.
That included some snaps as a freshman.
``Coach [Jerry] Cannaday told me to stay calm because we were going to pass it some,'' Graham said.
That's pretty much been his marching orders ever since.
Sutherland has put in one of those hot rod, quick read, run-and-gun offenses, this one with four catchers and one runner.
Gotta have a kid who can throw it pretty good to make that roadrunner hum.
``He's got a ton of potential,'' Sutherland said. ``He can throw, he has quick feet, and he's shown a lot of maturity. He knows when to throw and when to run.''
That Graham has made it to this stage, having the Shawnees rolling along at 2-2 to boot, indicates substantial survival skills.
``We had a couple of kids who looked like they were going to push him last year, but he stepped up,'' Sutherland said. ``There have definitely not been any regrets.''
by CNB