Grapeland Carries Four-Game Winning Streak Into Homecoming

By Greg Ritchie

Messenger Reporter

GRAPELAND — Amongst the many events scheduled for this year’s Peanut Festival, the Sandies are coming home with four straight wins and a chance to give their homecoming crowd another reason to celebrate Friday, Oct. 16, when Grapeland hosts Cross Roads in The Messenger’s Game of the Week.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. against a Bobcats team still seeking its first district victory. Grapeland enters the matchup following a hard-earned 20-12 win at Tenaha Saturday, Oct. 10, where the Sandies leaned on their defense and protected the football to keep their winning streak alive.

“It wasn’t necessarily pretty, but our defense stepped up and played really well for four quarters, and we took care of the ball offensively,” Grapeland Head Coach Jordan Wood said. “We just gutted it out for four quarters until we came away with the win.”

The Sandies have put together their streak with victories over Groveton, Cushing, Alto and Tenaha. After beating Groveton 52-6 and Cushing 29-7, Grapeland has had to work through closer games the past two weeks, defeating Alto 28-21 before coming home from Tenaha with an eight-point victory.

“Our kids are very gritty. They’re very tough,” Wood said. “They’re not afraid to play four quarters, and that’s what it took, and that’s what they did.”

This week brings a different challenge, with the Sandies preparing for a passing attack while balancing the activities surrounding homecoming.

Cross Roads enters the game 2-4 overall and 0-2 in district play following a 49-22 loss to Overton Thursday, Oct. 8. The Bobcats’ record includes victories over Meridian, 39-20, and Dallas Gateway Charter Academy, 31-0.

Their other district loss was considerably closer. Cross Roads fell 32-29 to Tenaha, the same opponent Grapeland just defeated. That result gives the Sandies a reason to approach Friday’s visitors with more caution than a glance at the standings might suggest.

“We still have a good week of preparation because they’re going to put a good product on the field,” Wood said. “The record doesn’t always reflect it, but they’re going to be well coached and well prepared.”

For Grapeland’s defensive backs, that preparation will include staying disciplined in coverage against a team willing to put the ball in the air.

“They throw the ball a lot, and so we have to make sure we are very disciplined on the back end and stay with our guys,” Wood said.

The Sandies’ defense comes into that assignment after holding Tenaha to 12 points. Wood credited the unit’s play throughout that game, along with the offense’s ball security, for helping Grapeland earn its latest victory.

Keeping that focus during homecoming week is another part of the preparation. The players will have opportunities to enjoy the festivities, but the expectations at practice remain the same.

“We want them to enjoy everything going on,” Wood said of taking part in homecoming activities. “Go enjoy when you can, but when it’s time to work, let’s do the work, and our kids take pride in that.”

Wood said the players have done a good job separating those activities from their responsibilities at practice and during games. He wants them to enjoy the occasion while arriving ready to play a Cross Roads team looking for a district breakthrough.

For the Sandies, Friday offers the opportunity to extend a winning run built over the past month, this time with a homecoming crowd behind them.

“We want them to have fun. We want them to be high school students and enjoy everything,” Wood said. “But at the same time, when it’s time to work, it’s time to work.”

Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]