Butch & Sundance: The Last Ride

Owens, Graf drop memorable final Goddard show

Alcoa quarterback Eli Graf (12) fakes the handoff and follows teammate Eli Owens (44) for a big gain. Photo by Wallace Bowden

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

We first met Eli Owens when he was still a toddler.

His mom was a star softball player at Alcoa back in the day, so we figured he’d grow into quite the athlete. That said, it was still a terrific shock when we saw him in a football uniform for the first time years later, playing running back and defensive end for Alcoa Middle School.

As a sixth-grader.

As we watched, the team’s quarterback caught our eye. He was fast. He could really spin the ball on his throws. His name was Eli, too.

Together, Eli Graf and Eli Owens have lifted sports at Alcoa High to new heights over the course of their four years: three consecutive state football championships; back-to-back state basketball championships.

They’ll play for a fourth gridiron title on Friday in Chattanooga as Alcoa looks to make it a record-extending 10th straight.

Owens will sign with Michigan in Alcoa’s David Duggan Lyceum on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

A week following Friday’s championship game, Graf, who’s committed to defending NCAA Division II national champion Harding University, will be in Nashville where he’s the betting favorite to be named the state’s Tennessee Titans Mr. Football.

We’ll break down the Alcoa/Westview championship clash later in the week, but, for now, Blount Press Row just wanted to thank Owens and Graf for all they’ve done for sports in this area. Both have grown into fine young men, and we wish them well.

The 42-7, quarterfinal win over Gatlinburg-Pittman in the accompanying video was their last ride at Alcoa’s Goddard Field.