Callaway 20 LaGrange 14 OT

Around 10 minutes before airtime, a Cavalier supporter said he expected the score to resemble a lopsided basketball game. I don't know about you, but I have never seen a lopsided basketball game turn out scoreless at the half. To use a highly technical term, this game was a slobber knocker.

LaGrange was forced to punt on its opening possession, but the Granger defense caused the Cavaliers to fumble on there's. LaGrange then turned the ball over on downs at the Callaway 21, and the Cavaliers had to punt. The teams battled to a stalemate, but Lagrange put together a long, drawnout drive. Four minutes into the second quarter, Lagrange had a 50 yard drive in 13 plays that took more than 5 1/2 minutes. But they could not turn it into points. Callaway's second turnover came with 48 seconds left to go in the half but Ahmad Ogletree threw his first interception of his career on the very next play. Tristian Dozier returned the favor, picking off a Dre Martin pass. The first half ended with the score knotted at zero.

I did not keep up with the yardage, but by my math Lagrange had around 15 minutes time of possession to Callaway's nine.

The second half started out much like the first half went. Callaway turn the ball over on downs while the Grangers were forced to punt. The Cavaliers coughed the ball up on the first play of their second drive, and this time Lagrange capitalized. A seven play, 36 yard drive ended when Kimani Barnes found the end zone from one yard out. 7-0 Grangers. Callaway went three and out, and LaGrange only needed six plays to go 57 yards. An eight yard run by Jeremiah Wright found paydirt, and it was 14-0 Grangers with 9:22 left in the game.

After an exchange of punts, the Cavaliers struck quickly.  It only took three plays to go 69 yards. Terry Godwin caught a 27 yard touchdown pass and the Cavaliers were down by one score. On the next Granger possession, Ogletree took a third and five play and made a miracle out of it. He was bottled up, escaped, and scampered to the Callaway 30 yard line. But LaGrange fumbled the ball away on the very next play. And Callaway would make them pay for it. An 80 yard drive in nine plays ended when Eddie Culpepper scored from five yards away with 21 seconds left in the game. 14-14 and on to overtime we go.

LaGrange started OT getting a first down to the 4 yard line. On third down, Mon Denson leaped over the top and almost broke the plane of the goal line. On fourth down, the Grangers went for it but was stopped right at the goal line again. Callaway took over in the bottom of the overtime, and it only took three plays to find the end zone. Martin ran it in from four yards out and Callaway wins 20-14.

It was definitely a hard fought battle both ways. The Cavalier players and fans acted like they won the Super Bowl when the touchdown was scored. There was a lot of upside to how both teams played. Now the Grangers host Troup in the first non-region game since 2003. That means this game doesn't mean anything, right?

Even I know better than that.

Thank you, Donnie Branch

After my first season broadcasting LaGrange football in 2003, I asked about doing baseball in 2004.  Station manager Glenn Buxton said he would talk with the owner about it.  The next week, Glenn said the answer was no.  The owner said that high school baseball would be too hard to sell.  LaGrange went on to win the 2004 AAA state baseball championship.  The Granger football team wins the 2004 state championship, so I ask Glenn once again about doing baseball.  This time he didn’t bother asking the owner, saying it would be better to ask forgiveness than permission.

That year, LaGrange baseball and football almost sold itself.  It is easy to get advertisers when you broadcast successful programs.  And the baseball and football teams were successful largely because of Donnie Branch.

Coach Branch started at LaGrange High School in 1986.  Two years ago, he stepped down as head coach of the baseball team.  This year, he announced his retirement from coaching.  I asked a few dozen former players to e-mail something about Coach Branch.  A story, their thoughts, anything they would like to share.  I only received e-mails from two former players, but what they said would likely have been echoed by the rest of them.

“When I look back on my high school career, “ wrote Jon Kelton, “there are two traits I gained from my time at LaGrange High School and playing under Coach Branch.  Those are discipline and work ethic.    We were not always the most talented team in high school, but nobody ever outworked us and nobody played the game more fundamentally sound than we did. “

Work ethic is a common theme among all coaches at LaGrange.  But it doesn’t stop when you leave.  Kelton recalls something that happened when he was playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

“In 2010 we were on a great run at the end of the season and playing Ole Miss in the SEC tournament.  Coach Branch came to support and I had a good game with a big hit earlier in the day.  We were ahead of Ole Miss in the last inning and my at bat wasn’t crucial but I still wanted another hit for selfish reasons.  I rolled over a ball to second base and loafed down the first base line.  Three years into my college career and coach Branch was still chirping at me from the stands as I got back to the dugout.  After the game we spoke on the phone and all I wanted to do was talk about the big win, but he made sure to give me an earful and reminded me I’m a Granger, and never to loaf down the line again.  Now, several years removed from college and a business owner  in Birmingham, AL, those two character traits I developed in my time under Coach Branch are still at the core of what I do today.  Whenever things get tough or I want to complain and feel sorry for myself, I know coach Branch would immediately tell me to “shut up and quit being soft.”  Sometimes you just need to hear it.  I believe this no excuse mentality and the high level of pride he instilled in every player who wore the Granger uniform is why he was so successful as a coach for so many years. “

Once discipline and work ethic is instilled in athletes, and fundamentals are learned, then they are ready for competition.  And Donnie Branch thrived on it. 

“One of many things that always impressed me about Coach Branch was how intense of a competitor he was,” wrote Tommy Traylor, “and likewise his ability to instill that competitive greatness in his players. We certainly had some special players that helped make those defensive units great. But I believe that a big part of what made those defenses so great, especially in big games, can be attributed to Coach Branch. He pushed for perfection, and demanded that players take pride in their effort, discipline, technique, and performance in practice as well as games. By the time an important region or playoff game rolled around, the above was second nature--part of a player's identity--and wouldn't fade under pressure.”

To me, personally, Coach Branch was always accessible and honest.  His door was always open and he told you what he thought.  His first baseball postgame interview with me, he remembered his audience.  He thought his starting pitcher’s performance “sucked,” but he said that off-air.  On the air he said it “stunk.”  He took the time from his busy schedule for me, and not just for pregame interviews.  But to talk about the team, giving back stories about players we could share on the air and help make them more to our listeners.

But to the players and coaches who saw him every day, he was a whole lot more.

Tommy Traylor, again.  “Coach Branch was also a great motivator, able to infuse the defense with confidence that they could not only hang in with any opponent, but could dominate them and even win the game for us if need be.  He embodies so many qualities that comprise a true man.  He was accountable and honest, a man of his word, and made selfless decisions with the best interest of others in mind.  Overall, he was truly a servant-leader, giving immeasurable amounts of time and effort to teach, mold, and help young men, both on and off the field.”

Though retired, Donnie has taken time to work with the defensive coaches, giving his vast knowledge on how to be a coach to the younger coaches.  After 30 years total, Coach Branch still pays it forward helping kids be better players, coaches be better coaches, and everyone he comes in contact with be better people.