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They love to pass

The Trojans lock up a share of title

John M Setzler Jr

Bandys quarterback Kyle Houser looks for a receiver during Friday night's game against East Burke.

By Lee Shook

Record Sports Correspondent

Published: October 31, 2009

ICARD - Bandys High quarterback Kyle Houser and wide receiver Seth Cranfill have a special connection when it comes to throwing and catching a football.

On Friday night, the duo exhibited that in a 28-12 victory by the visiting Trojans that secured them no worse than a share for the Catawba Valley Athletic 2A title and the league's No. 1 state playoff berth.

Bandys (9-1, 6-0) is one game ahead of Newton-Conover (9-1, 5-1) heading into next Friday's home game against Bunker Hill. And the Trojans have clinched the No. 1 playoff berth because they beat the Red Devils this season.

East Burke (7-3, 4-2) is alone in third place.

Houser threw two TD passes, both to Cranfill, and unofficially moved within 100 yards of breaking Zach Elliott's school record for career passing yardage.

"They (Houser and Cranfill) have been playing together since (they were) little kids," said Bandys head coach Randy Lowman. "They've started four years here. You can't coach that.

"But they've also got talent to go with that unusual connection."

Bandys' spread offense was more than East Burke could contain as Houser completed 10-of-20 passes, with no interceptions, for 214 yards.

"We haven't played a team that executes that spread offense as well in the eight years I've been back in coaching," said East Burke head coach Mike Biggerstaff. "They have a great offensive scheme and execute it to perfection.

"I think the turning point was the first quarter. We made mistakes and had to punt to a team with that kind of firepower.

"We were taken out of our game."

An East Burke fumble was recovered by Bandys' Eben Pyle at the Cavs' 40. Houser struck for a 36-yard TD pass to Cranfill on just the second play. Rob Gjurai's PAT was blocked, making it 6-0.
Later in the quarter, Josh Debro's punt to the Bandys 36 was not returned.

But the Trojans started a seven-play drive for their next TD. Houser accounted for 69 yards through the air and Trenton Millsaps finished the drive with a 7-yard TD run. Houser then hit Cranfill for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Another East Burke mistake, a pass interception by Casey Day, led to Bandys' next score. Houser passed to Cranfill for a 30-yard catch-and-run for another TD.

The Cavs began moving the ball late in the quarter. A Bandys punt was downed at the East Burke 23, and the Cavs began an eight-play drive for their first score.

East Burke quarterback Chris Collins completed a 16-yard pass to Debro, followed by a 33-yard pass play to Dustin Wilson for the TD. Justin Powell's PAT was blocked and Bandys led 21-6 at intermission.

The Cavs used up over seven minutes to start the third quarter before scoring on a 1-yard TD run by Kenneth Gaither. But in addition to time, the drive also took a lot of energy from players East Burke used on both offense and defense.

Lowman said he felt Bandys had to come back to score again on its next possession. The Trojans did, on a 1-yard run by Millsaps.

"That was large," said Lowman. "We had given up momentum at the end of the half, then when they scored to start the second half, we had to answer."