Michael Gray goes through a hole some eight feet wide in the Indians' game with the Red Devils Friday night. Leading the way for Gray is fullback Earless Coleman (52) who, along with the line,was able to open holes this size all night long and were acknowledged by Gray to be the reason he was able to amass 474 yards in the game. (Tribune Photo/Dan Brawner)

For a quarter and a half the Marked Tree-Augusta game last Friday night looked as if it was going to be a repeat of the Marked Tree-EPC game of two weeks before which ended with a score of 7-6. After that scoreless first quarter ended, though, the game became a barnburner as the Indians were the last men standing in a 43-40 homecoming victory.

But besides seeing one of the most exciting games in recent Indian history, the fans lining the field saw a near state record effort in the play of Michael Gray, who finished the game with 474 yards on 37 carries.

Not only that, Gray stopped what could have been the Red Devils game winning drive by recovering a fumble at the Indians' 20 with just over 3:00 remaining in the game.

"I think it's obvious we played real well offensively." said coach Tim Branum. "We blocked and ran real well. We moved Earless Coleman to fullback and that made a big difference in our blocking because he's so big and quick. Plus he ran it pretty good even though we didn't give it to him many times. But, Michael was running it so well you hated not to give it to him. Our offensive line and our receivers were opening some huge holes all night."

While Gray and the offense got most of the accolades for the win Friday night, the defense had to play their part as well. Here under the watchfull eye of a referee, Carlos Matos gets ready to stop a Red Devils runner in a head-to-head collision. (Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

While the Indians' offense broke loose the last 31:11 of the game, the defense kept Marked Tree alive to get to that point. Both Marked Tree and Augusta had long drives in that time. The Indians, in fact, got to the Devil one before an illegal procedure penalty helped to stop their drive.

Finally, Augusta took the lead 7-0 at 7:11 of the second quarter to finish off a 12 play 98 yard drive. From that point on, one team or the other scored on average once every 3:00 for the rest of the game.

The Indians closed the gap just over a minute later when four plays into their next drive, Gray popped free for 50 yards and his first score. The kick was no good, but Marked Tree had closed to 7-6 with 6:07 left in the half.

Augusta responded in kind at the 2:13 mark to make it 13-6 after their PAT try was also unsuccessful.

With just over two minutes left following the Devil kick and 65 yards to cover, there seemed little chance the Indians would be able to score again. On this night, though, that was more than enough time as quarterback T.J. Laster hit three straight passes -- nine yards to Francisco Matos, 35 yards to Gray and three yards to Quincel Wilson -- to get the ball to the Devil 13.

After Gray powered to the six, Laster took it the remainder, powering in over the left side for a 13-12 score. The point after pass attempt was deflected leaving the Indians one point down at halftime.

Following Dionte Smith's 18-yard kickoff return to the Marked Tree 35 to open the second half, Gray gave the Indians their first lead as he went untouched 65 yards for his second TD of the night. He then punched in the two-point conversion putting Marked Tree up 20-13.

The Indians had little time to enjoy the lead, however, as five plays later, the Devils scored from the nine and followed that with a two-point play to tie the game at 20-all at 9:43.

Marked Tree took the lead again 28-20 just over 4:00 later when Gray ended a 10-play drive with a 14-yard TD. Tight end Richie Tate caught Laster's conversion pass for two points.

Augusta scored 1:30 later on a 43-yard run, converting with a run to tie the game again 28-all.

"Defensively, we didn't play very well in spots, but in all fairness (Augusta) has some good backs," concluded Branum. "At times we lined up wrong, didn't tackle well and had missed assignments. Of course our kids are playing both ways and on kickoffs and returns so they try to find a place to rest and this time it looked like it was on defense.

But, we've got to get better on defense or it's going to get us beat."

Then back came the Indians as Gray ran twice for 11 then for 49 scoring with 1:28 remaining in the quarter. Chris Williams ran the two-point play in for a 36-28 lead, ending the scoring for the quarter.

The Devils started the final period by cutting the lead again, though, scoring on a run from the 17 at the 10:29 mark. The conversion run was stuffed, though, keeping the Indians in the lead, 36-34.

The Indians got the ball back on the 13 after the kickoff and Gray went first five yards and then two. Then for the first time in the game the senior lost yardage (one yard) which resulted in the first punt of the game for the Indians (and the only punt for either team).

Following Gray's punt to the Indians' 44, Augusta needed only six plays to score the go-ahead TD. The point after attempt was once again stopped, but the Devils had the lead 40-36 with 6:06 remaining in the game.

Marked Tree's winning TD drive began with an interference call which put the ball at the Indian 32, first-and-10. Driving the ball somewhat faster than the coaches probably desired, Gray picked up three successive first downs with runs of 12, 21 and 23 to give the Indians a first-and-goal at the one.

Expecting Gray to get the ball, Laster fooled the Devils by sneaking the ball in for the touchdown. Tate kicked the PAT and the Indians went back up 43-40.

While there was a momentary rush of joy on the Marked Tree side of the field, reality quickly replaced it as the coaches, players and the majority of the fans realized that with 4:59 remaining, Augusta had more than enough time to win the game.

Hoping to end that threat, the Indians tried an onside kick, but failed to recover the ball, giving Augusta a first-and-10 at the Indians' 49.

Things really looked bleak as the Devils got to the 20 on the first play from scrimmage. But Greg Johnson forced the fumble that Gray recovered on the next play and the Indians managed to run out the clock for the victory.

Statistically after Gray's figures, Coleman finished with 52 yards on four attempts while Williams got three on one rush. Laster had 27 yards on eight rushing attempts to go along with a 4 for 7 night through the air which netted 52 yards and an interception. On the receiving chart Matos had one catch for 12 yards, Wilson and Tate one for three each while Gray had a catch for 34 yards.

The Indians will travel to McCrory to take on the 3-1 Jaguars in a 7:30 game this Friday.