"What's In a Name"

The famous Shakespeare once wrote in one of his plays “What is in a name? Well there is a lot in a name when it comes to the High Point Raven’s CB, #2 William Graham IV! The Graham name has held many spots throughout its existence within William’s family, from his grandfather to his uncles, and his father. Football has always been a large part of the Graham’s from when his grandfather William Graham Jr. puts his own sons in the sport at young ages. They took it and ran long and far with it. Will’s two uncles both played quarterback at the high school and college levels, but ended their careers there. Will’s dad William Graham III played running back in high school where he won a state championship, before moving on to playing some college at Johnson C. Smith. He eventually went to the marines where he became a powerhouse running back, gaining recognition and offered tryouts for the Atlanta Falcons, before blowing his knee ending his career. This brings us to the man on the field, William Graham IV!
William also known as Will on the team began his playing days at the young age of five in the flag football league. He followed in his uncles footsteps playing Quarterback for his young years, well on to his High school days. Will, then went on to play tackle football at the age of eight helping his team to the city league championship game where they unfortunately lost. He then moved on to middle school where he helped lead his team to a division championship and an undefeated season. High during high school Will continued his position at quarterback, playing over at Grimsley High School, freshman and part of his sophomore year. He transferred to Page for the remainder of his sophomore year before he was redistricted to Western Guilford HS. Western would pose a challenge for Will, because the school already had a quarterback, so Will decided to try a new position and took on the Corner position. It took him no time to demonstrate skills at this position posting a record of six interceptions his senior year before leaving the team to focus more time on his Wrestling. As talented as Will was he did not excel on to the college level, despite the offers from colleges, do to his grades.
Will never gave up on his dream of playing football though, using his uncles and fathers as a fuel to his determination he sought out football wherever he could find it from pickup games to flag football leagues. It was not until 2008 that, Will found a home here with the High Point Ravens Semi- Pro team. He brought great talent to the team at the Corner spot, but become discouraged early into the season, and ended up leaving after a few games. He came back this year though with a new game plan, a game plan to “BE THE BEST,” as he says! He came into the preseason on fire along with fellow corner Chris Ingram, both grabbing 2 interceptions over their first four preseason games. It was not enough for Will though who began to pick up as the season went on. Will stepped up this season finishing out the season with 10 interceptions, three of which he grabbed against the Richmond Co. Golden Bears, in route to setting a new Ravens All- Time record. Will’s mind set worked out for him helping him land his first All-Star appearance in the CCFL where he went on to grab down two more interceptions. One was grabbed in the 2nd quarter and the second came right after the start of the 3rd quarter. Will had 1 forced fumble and recovery in the 4 quarter of the All-Star Game. Will also had 5 tackles adding to his other stats for the night helping Will go on to be named the 2009 CCFL All-Star Defensive MVP. Will still has one more All-Star Game this coming month for the Alliance Football League.
Will looks to start this coming season in a new league and hopes to be able to repeat his accomplishments if not improve them. He is also thinking about a position change back to quarterback, but keeps his main focus on his CB spot, which has become his passion. Will is also considering trying to take his game to the next level over to Europe or Canada or even to the Arena Leagues, but maintains focus on his Ravens for now. “I love my team like brothers, and have all of their backs if they ever need me to. I just want to take this past season remove the weak parts, and rebuild a stronger team that will go on to run this new league we are going to. If I get the chance to play in one of the Europe Leagues or Arena, or even the NFL or Canada then yea I will make my moves, to be able to create a better life for my wife and son, but until then you can find me making plays on the Ravens Defense or maybe even Offense. I’m going to push that Graham name to the max, and then step back and let my son take over. So stay tuned to the Ravens, we are about to make it happen in 2010!”

Raven's Joins the Alliance Football League

The High Point Ravens have joined the Alliance Football league. Formerly of the CCFL, the Ravens have proven they are a quality team in the North Carolina as well as throughout the sport. The Ravens organization will now be on a national stage, when it comes to football . The Alliance Football League has expanded in Indiana, North & South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia and will announce more teams and each team individually. Coach Littlejohn stated " I feel this will be a great thing for our players. This will give them the chance to play teams from different states and also get a chance to travel to states, they may have never been before!" The AFL was formed in 1998 and the league consist of 31 teams going into the 2010 season. The 2010 season will start sometime in June or July, so please stay tune to more Raven's Football!

Another come from behind Win!

The High Point Ravens found away to win once again, vs the Richmond County Golden Bears. The Golden Bears drew first blood on a 65 yard scoring drive, that gave them the 6-0 lead. The Ravens found themselves losing 13-0 at halftime. The second half, QB Aaron Rutherford, found WR Markel Barnes for a 65 yard TD. The Golden Bears scored again on a 3 yard TD. Then scored a third time on a 45 yard TD run. The Ravens were losing 20-6, with 1:30 left in the 4th quarter. The High Point Ravens scored again and quick with a 55 yard TD pass from QB Aaron Rutherford to WR Darvell Gibson. With time running out, Darvell Gibson, now at QB found WR Cory Shepard in the back of the end zone, for the TD, to tie the game. The 2 point conversation fail and the game went into overtime. In over time, the Ravens won the toss and got the ball. The Ravens moved the ball up the field when RB Mike Davis, fumbled the ball on the Golden Bears 10 yard line. The Golden Bears moved the ball and on the 4 play, DL Ricky Easter, hit the RB and caused him to fumble the ball. LB Damien Gathings, pick up the ball and returned it 48 yards for the game winning TD. The final score was 26-20. The Ravens improved to 3-3 in the league and 6-3 overall. The Ravens are off next week due to the Labor Day, but will return to action vs the Carolina Eagles, in Concord, NC.

Raven's comes from behind again to grab the Win!

The High Point Ravens has done it again! After losing 13-0 at halftime to the Triangle Rattlers, the Ravens came back to win the game 16-13. The Ravens fumbled the football on their own 20 yard line and the Rattlers pick it for a TD. The Rattlers was leading 13-0, when QB Deon Williams connected with WR Jeremy Haskins for a 10 yard TD. RB James Littlejohn, ran in the 2 points conversation. The Ravens Defense played strong and got the ball back with 58 seconds left in the 4th quarter. QB Deon William teamed up with WR Jeremy Haskins again, but this time for a 65 yard TD pass. WR Markel Barnes score the 2 pt cov. The High Point Ravens improve to 2-3 in league play and 5-3 overall. The Ravens will be traveling to Rockingham, NC to take on the Richmond County Golden Bears, August 29th.

Ravens comes from behind to get the Win!

The High Point Ravens gets their first win, in league play for the season. The High Point Ravens hosted the Monroe Mustangs of Monroe, NC. The Mustangs scored first on a 78 yard TD pass. The game went into halftime with the Ravens trailing 8-0. The second half, both teams couldn't get anything going until late in the 4th quarter, QB Aaron Rutherford, connected with WR Markel Barnes on a 45 yard TD, 2 point conversation was good. With the game tied at 8-8, QB Aaron Rutherford passed for another TD, but this time, he connected with WR Jeremy Haskins for a 20 yd TD. The Ravens won the game 16- 8 and improved to 1-3 in league play and 4-3 overall. The Ravens will be hosting the Triangle Ratters of Durham, NC, on August 22nd.

Raven's is Blowout by Champs!

The High Point Ravens, went to Salisbury, NC to take on the CCFL Defending Champs! The Ravens open the game on defense, and the Rowan Rampage struck first. With the score 7-0, the Ravens got the ball back, but went 3 plays and out. Raven's punter Deon Williams, place the ball on the 2 yard line with his punt. The Rampage started on their own 2 yd line. 3 plays later, Raven's MLB Michael Canty, got a INT and returned it 10 yds for the TD. The Ravens went for 2 and got it, taking them in to halftime with a 8-7 lead. The second half, the bottom fell out and the Rampage went to work. The final score was Rowan 37 High Point 8. This was the Raven's 3rd straight loses, and they drop to 0-3 for the league play and 3-3 overall. The High Point Ravens will be returning home next Saturday, August 15nd, to take on the Monroe Mustangs of Monroe, NC.

Raven's loses a tuff one at home 6-0

The High Point Ravens loses 6-0, to the Carolina Bulldogs, this past Saturday. The game was full of big hits and good drives, but the Ravens fell short of winning the game. CB Chris Ingram came up with his 4th INT of the season. The Ravens drops to 0-2 in league play and 3-2 overall. Next game is August 8th, against the CCFL Defending Champions, the Rowan Rampage.

Raven's loses Season Opener!

The High Point Ravens, lost their Season Opener at home vs the Thomasville Titans, of Thomasville, NC. This lost comes in front of the Ravens biggest home crowd, the staff have ever seen at a home game before. There was a total of 285 people at the game, that night. The Thomasville Titans scored first, when the Ravens had the ball on their own 15 yard line. The Titans blitz the left CB and sack the QB, that caused a fumble. The Titans pick up the fumble for the TD. With the Titans leading 6-0, the Ravens offense came to life and moved the ball down the field. The Ravens, with the ball inside the 10 yard line, hand the ball off to RB Esla Matthews for the 7 yard TD. The 2 point converstiton, was no good. Game tied at 6-6 and then Thomasville Titans score 21 unanswered points. The Ravens threw 7 int. this game. Coach James Littlejohn, stated after the game" They (Thomasville) wanted it more then we did tonight". The lost drop the Ravens to 0-1 in league play and 3-1 overall. The next game is next Saturday, August 1st, when the Ravens will be hosting the Carolina Bulldogs of Indian Land, SC.

Raven's Cool Down Hotshots

The High Point Ravens defeated the Triad Hotshots 44-20, Saturday June 20th in Greensboro, NC. The Ravens came out once again, scored on the opening drive, just 6 plays in with a TD pass from QB Aaron Rutherford to WR Markel Barnes. The next TD came on the next series with a another TD throw from QB Aaron Rutherford to WR Markel Barnes. RB Mike Davis scored his 4th TD of the year on a 5 yd run. LB Damien Gathings step in at FB and scored a 1 yd TD (QB Aaron Rutherford 2p conver.)Rookie LB Michael Canty Jr. pick up a fumble that was cause by DL Antonio Jacobs and ran it in for a TD. DL Antonio Jacobs scored on a 5 yd TD from the FB spot & DL Roger Thornton scored the 2pt from the FB spot. The Ravens had big games from DB A.D Rutherford & WR Jeremy Haskins. DB's Will Graham & Chris Ingram both, got their second INT of the year and FS Malik Walker got his first INT of the year. The Ravens improved to 3-0 and has set another team record by scoring 44 points. The next game will be vs the Carolina Golden Knights in Newland, NC on July 11, 2009.

Ravens beat Fayetteville Enforcers and Set New Team Record!

The High Point Ravens defeated the Fayetteville Enforcers 26-20 on June 14th. The Ravens came out fighting early, with just on the 5th play of the game, scoring on a 27 yard TD pass from QB Aaron Rutherford to WR Jeremy Haskins. The next TD came from a 5 yd TD run by RB Mike Davis (Terry Hooks, 2pt conv.). The Defense step into the scoring book when the Enforcers had a bad snap on a punt, that was jump on in the endzone by Rookie DB Reginald Love for this first career TD. QB Aaron Rutherford & WR Jeremy Haskins team up again to turn in another TD, but this time with a 55yd TD pass. Defense was lead by Rookie LB Zach Christie 3 solo tackles, 2 assist tackles, and 1 sack. The Ravens have improved to 2-0 for the season and will be playing the Triad Hotshots on June 20, 2009 in Greensboro, NC .The Ravens set a new team record, by scoring 26 points. That was the most points, the team has scored in its 2 years. The highest points score by the Ravens was in a 24-20 win over the Rowan Rampage, their first ever game in 2007.

High Point Ravens Wins first Preseason Game!

The High Point Ravens beat the Columbia Warriors 18-13 on May 23rd, in Columbia, SC.
The Ravens stroked first, on the first play of the game, with a 50 yard TD run up the middle from RB Mike Davis. The second Raven's score came from a 60 yard run from RB Mike Davis, to set up his 1 yd TD. The Warriors went up 13-12 with 2:30 left in the game. The Ravens took the following kickoff and Terry Hooks returned the kick, 80 yds and was knocked out at the 5 yard line. The Ravens had 3 try's for a TD, but was unable to get it in. The Ravens went for a field goal and it turned out to be a fake FG, and WR Jeremy Haskins caught the game winning TD. RB Mike Davis end the game with 13 carries 174 yds, 2 TD. Terry Hooks had 107 all-purpose yards. The Defense was lead by LB Tyrese White with 3 solo tackles, 1 assist tackle, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass def, and 1 sack. The defense cause 5 turnovers and Chris Ingram and Will Graham but came with 1 INT. The Ravens next game will be vs. the Fayetteville Enforcers on June 6, 2009 in Fayetteville, NC.

2009 Training Camp

Training Camp begins Saturday March 14th. Players get ready, stay in shape, and get ready to win a championship. It's gonna be a tuff, but fun year in the Central Carolina Football. Go Ravens!!