Lake Taylor uses multiple backs to replace Newton
A year ago, Lake Taylor coach Hank Sawyer was looking forward to having running back Malik Newton in the backfield to help lead the Titans to another Class 4 state title.
But all of that changed with COVID-19 and the canceled fall season. Newton decided to graduate early and headed to Pittsburgh.
Newton, who shared the 2019 Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Football Co-Player of the Year, was the Class 4 Offensive Player of the Year after tying a South Hampton Roads record with 32 rushing touchdowns last season as a junior. Newton rushed for 2,060 yards — eighth on South Hampton Roads’ single-season list.
That’s a lot of production to replace, so the Titans have turned to the trio of senior Mani Pahl, and sophomores Tarreon Washington-Jacobs and Chuck Fisher.
“All three of them have a pretty good running style,” Sawyer said following the Titans’ win over Maury on Friday. “(Washington-Jacobs and Fisher) are sophomores. And (Pahl) runs real hard. We try to keep a fresh one in there for blocking as well as running.”
Last week against a stingy Commodores defense, the trio rushed for more than 150 yards, led by Fisher’s 91 yards and a 70-yard touchdown.
“Washington-Jacobs and Fisher are so young, they are so unselfish,” Sawyer said. “They really don’t care who gets the credit. And that really helps the offense a lot.”
Green Run coach Brandon Williams admits to feeling a little antsy as the Stallions had to wait an extra week for the start of the season.
And it showed as the Stallions beat Kempsville 42-0 in the season opener.
“It felt great to finally get out on the field,” Williams said about the victory, which marked the Stallions’ first 1-0 start since 2014. “I was very impressed with my team’s overall performance, getting out to a fast start after a 400-day layoff was amazing. A lot of my young guys stood out to me who made their first varsity starts.”
It also marked Green Run’s first season-opening shutout since 1986, when the Stallions beat Maury 27-0.
That team was led by quarterback Alton Grizzard, who was the Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year.
The 1986 team went 8-0-2 in the regular season and made the playoffs, but lost to eventual state champion Hampton.
Two QBs work for Ocean Lakes
At the start of the season, Ocean Lakes coach Joe Jones knew his offense was going to be talented and deep at nearly every position, including quarterback with senior Josh Brown and junior Landon Spell.
In the season opener, Spell threw two touchdown passes — a 60-yarder and 30-yarder — in a win over Kellam.
“He gave us a spark,” Jones said. “He came in and made a couple of plays for us.”
Spell’s success continued last week against Landstown with 167 passing yards and two more touchdowns in a win over the Eagles.
Spell “was our JV quarterback last year,” Jones said. “He’s worked extremely hard, as Josh has, too.”
Jones said having two “quality” quarterbacks is a good problem to have, and he points out that both have 4.0 grade-point averages in the classroom.
“I tell both, I believe we can win with either of them,” Jones said. “We’re going to use this as a positive. If one is struggling, the other may come in. Nothing is set in stone. They’ll compete against each other every week and we’ll decide who is going to come out and start.”