“Being a part of the program is part of being a part of the program,” Graham said after his third TMHS team lost 30-0 to defending champion Akron Hoban at Ohio Stadium.
Graham took over for Maurice Douglass prior to the 2014 season. Douglass’ Rams went to four straight state championship games, winning it all in 2011 and losing in ’10, ’12 and ’14.
Graham’s first two seasons ended in the state semifinals, a round they blew through last week with a 36-0 demolition of Toledo Catholic Central.
“Prior years I was offensive coordinator, and now I’m the head coach,” Graham said. “I’m not looking at it as being separate, because it’s part of the Ram Nation program. Just trying to get these guys ready to go and when we get in this situation you’ve got to take full advantage of it.”
Next season Graham can look forward to the return of star running back Raveion Hargrove (137 yards against the Knights) and top receiver Caleb Johnson.
Also due back is quarterback Markell Stephens-Peppers, who struggled against relentless pressure and threw three interceptions in the state title game.
Graham will have to rebuild his offensive line and defensive secondary, but two defensive front seven starters Saturday were sophomores and two more were juniors the coach hopes can build off their first taste of Week 15.
“Oh definitely,” Graham said. “Each year we thrive on it. I don’t want to take anything way from our seniors because these guys have been in the same situation. They’ve sat in those same shoes and witnessed big games before and I know our juniors are gonna look at it and say, ‘OK guys let’s get back here.’ ”
Different situation: The Division III state championship game marked a happy return for two of Akron Hoban's stars — and probably a last stand.
Quarterback Danny Clark and running back Todd Sibley were Ohio State verbal commitments when the Knights won it all last season, but both have found new college destinations.
Sibley flipped his commitment to Pittsburgh in June while Clark switched to Kentucky in October after expressing concerns about his fit in Urban Meyer’s spread offense when he decommitted in September.
Clark threw a pair of touchdown passes against Trotwood and showed off some running skills with a 34-yard dash on which he made a couple of defenders miss before charging over the goal line.
Clark wore a blue and white Kentucky scarf to the postgame interview room under the South Stands at Ohio Stadium and sounded at peace with how things have worked out.
“It don’t matter where we’re playing,” he said. “It don’t matter if we’re playing here or Kent State or Alabama. We’re here to win with our teammates, and we’re blessed by God that we got to have a great victory today. It meant the world to us.
“It don’t matter who we’re playing. We’re out here to win, and we’re out here with a purpose. It was a great night. God was on our side. We were executing, doing what we needed to do, and we had a great time doing it. It doesn’t matter where we play.”
Sibley started the scoring with a 49-yard touchdown run and finished with 151 yards on 17 carries.
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