TAZEWELL, Va. — The Graham High School football team didn’t quite put an unbeaten regular season record in the books in 2026.
But in Thursday night’s regular season finale, the G-Men looked pretty unbeatable in all phases of the game.
Graham exploded for 223 yards and five first-half touchdowns on six offensive plays and the G-Men rolled to a 56-0 win over Richlands at Tazewell’s Witten Field-Bulldogs Stadium.
As the top-rated Class 2 team on this half of the state, Graham (9-1) is expected to have a home field advantage for four of the VHSL’s playoff weeks — providing they win and advance at each rung. The Blue Tornado (1-9) are done for this year.
Ja’Von Lane capped Graham’s first possession of the game with a 4-yard scoring run, igniting a 35-point conflagration in the first quarter alone.
Lane scored again just a little over a minute later when the G-Men blocked a Richlands punt atttempt and he scooped up the loose football and returned it 25 yards for another touchdown.
Gage Palmer took it to the end zone on a 56 yard touchdown run from scrimmage, putting Graham up 21-0 with 7:31 remaining in the first quarter.
A.J. Bradshaw made it 28-0 on his 37 yard touchdown reception thrown by Graham quarterback Garrett Palmer with 6:52 on the clock.
Kassius Bradshaw, who had two first-half interceptions, scored a touchdown on a 63-yard punt return with 5:31 remaining in the first quarter.
Aiden Gauger’s 6-yard TD run had the G-Men leading 49-0 at intermission.
Garrett Palmer had passed for 127 first half yards and two scoring strikes.
Placekicker Jacob Nash went 7-for-7 on first half PAT kicks.
Richlands was held to eight yards total offense in the first half. Jy’Sir Williamson had four tackles and a forced fumble during that two-quarter span.
Hawken Nelson scored the only touchdown of the second half, scoring on a 13-yard TD run after setting it up with an interception and return on the defensive side of the football. Freshman Kendon Graves and junior Cameron Graves both stood out defensively.
The G-Men collected their 10th consecutive Southwest District title this season and will be pursuing their fourth VHSL Class 2 state championship under future VHSL Hall of Fame coach Tony Palmer when they begin postseason play next week.
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