Week ending Oct. 5

Reed and react play from Daniels rouses Governors

William Blount quarterback Reed Daniels looks for his target at the Maryville College passing camp this summer. Photo by Jolanda Jansma

Tough call but got to go with Reed Daniels.

With William Blount down, 8-0, at halftime Friday at Lenoir City, the Governor quarterback electrified his team with three, third-quarter touchdown passes. Once in the fight, William Blount knows how to close, holding off the Panthers in the fourth quarter for a 29-17 win.

Daniels, the Barley’s/Blount Press Row Player of the Week, went on to finish his evening with 223 yards passing and the three scores.

Daniels, a senior, edged Governor receiver Joel Graham for the nod as this week’s top player. Graham caught two of his longtime friend’s third-quarter touchdown passes, scoring on grabs of 66 and 39 yards. Running back Devin Fair had the third scoring catch from Daniels, covering 24 yards, as William Blount took the lead, 19-17, after three quarters.

Quietly, Graham is putting together a fabulous senior season with 38 catches for 514 yards and seven touchdowns to date. It’s how Daniels, back after missing a game with a concussion, got Graham the ball on the 66-yard hookup that made him our player of the week.

A high snap on the play first forced Daniels to chase the ball down. Staying with the play, he eluded the rush to slip the ball Graham, who did the rest.

Great teamwork, guys.