Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 14, 1993 TAG: 9310160115
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PAGE: S-46 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ed Scott had a problem most high school football coaches would love to have.
Too much talent at one position.
Going into the season, Patrick Henry's coach had three players - Rod Akers, Adrian Moore and Ike Williams - with experience at tailback.
All three are skilled athletes with good speed. Scott needed a way to use all that talent.
He thought he solved the problem before PH's opener against William Fleming. He moved Williams to fullback. Akers and Moore - who have played sandlot football together since they were 7 - would split time at tailback.
The Patriots (3-2) opened their season with losses to Fleming and GW-Danville. PH averaged only 142 yards rushing in those games.
Scott said the team wasn't getting enough production out of the H-back position, a key spot in the team's passing game in recent years.
"We just weren't catching the ball enough at H-back," he said. "We had three top players stacked up at tailback, and we had to move somebody."
That turned out to be Moore. Scott moved Mooreto H-back and decided Akers would be the full-time tailback.
"It happened the Tuesday after the loss to GW," said Moore, a 5-foot-11, 155-pound senior. "Coach called me over during practice, and I started running plays for H-back. We knew somebody was going to move. I catch the ball better [than Akers], and he can run a little better."
Said Akers, a 6-0, 170 senior: "We're on the field at the same time now, and that means we've got more weapons."
The first test of the restructured offense was a 28-0 blowout of Albemarle. PH rushed for 242 yards, led by Akers' 107 yards on 11 carries. Moore's hands stood out even more; he caught four passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
"Those were two tremendous catches," Scott said of the touchdowns. "One was between two defenders, and I don't know how he got it. The other was a diving catch into the end zone. Being in the slot, he can go anywhere on the field."
In a 34-7 rout of Halifax County on Oct. 1, Akers had his best game, rushing for 174 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries. Moore hasn't been getting many carries at the H-back position - two in three games - but he said the switch doesn't bother him.
"Coming into the season, I thought I'd be running the ball more," he said. "But if it's going to help the team, I'd rather stay where I am."
The switch would seem to be an improvement, but don't mistake Albemarle and Halifax County for Fleming and GW-Danville. The Patriots still must face Pulaski County, the top-ranked Group AAA team, and they have a rematch against Fleming. Those games will be true tests of how much PH has improved.
Patriots quarterback Shannon Taylor, a first-team All-Group AAA selection last year, said he likes the switch.
"This has been working out for the best," Taylor said. "I won't have to run as much now. I can be more relaxed and concentrate on passing."
Taylor struggled in his first two games, completing 11 of 40 passes (28 percent) for 183 yards, an interception and a touchdown. The switch seems to have benefited him, though. In three games, he is 23-of-51 passing (45 percent) for 491 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
It seems the players will stay put for a while.
"You're always hoping to get your best combination on the field," Scott said. "We hope this is it."
by CNB