RBs Scott, Chapman are Wilson's dynamic duo
LONG BEACH ❯❯ Senior running backs Christian Chapman and Laighton Scott V said they are actually happy to be splitting time in Wilson's backfield this season. That's because Scott and Chapman are motivating and pushing each other toward greatness.
Scott is the team's leading rusher this season, although the St. John Bosco transfer has played in only four of his team's six games.
“My expectation was to come in here and work,” said Scott, who recently visited Fresno State. “I knew my spot wasn't solidified. I didn't even know (Chapman) was injured, so my thing was I have to fight for my spot just like everybody else.”
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound running back, who is powerful and speedy enough to have a 95-yard touchdown run against Millikan on Sept. 15, has 476 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 43 carries, averaging 11.1 yards per carry. He also has three receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns.
“I feel like I've been able to help a lot,” said Scott, who had a time of 11.24 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior at Bosco. “With the team trusting me I feel like that made it a lot better when it comes to our camaraderie.”
Scott said knowing that his teammates believe in him means more than they will ever know.
“It just means a lot because it's one of those (things) where if they trust me then I can do as much as I can, and then if I can trust them, I feel like they'll have more faith in me,” Scott said.
Meanwhile, Chapman has 325 yards rushing and four touchdowns on only 19 carries after missing his team's first three games due to injury. The 6-foot-1, 176-pound running back, who is shifty and elusive, also has a team-high nine receptions for 108 yards.
“I feel like us being able to spread the ball a lot more helped the offense (this year),” said Chapman, who had two 65-yard touchdown runs against Compton on Sept. 22.
Chapman, a four-year player for Wilson, ran for 1,206 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games as the Bruins' go-to player last season. The Bruins finished 4-6 last season, which included a forfeit win against Millikan.
“It definitely feels good not having all that weight on my shoulder, having (Laighton) to be able to spread the ball multiple ways and tire out the defense,” Chapman added.
Wilson coach Scott Meyer said it is important to have multiple weapons.
“Those are two really good running backs,” Meyer said recently. “I know they're just going to get better and better ... they're going to present some problems.”
Wilson is 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Moore League heading into today's game against rival Long Beach Poly (5-1, 2-0) at Veterans Stadium. Last season, Poly beat Wilson 70-0.
The Bruins have not defeated the Jackrabbits in football since 1991.
Wilson will conclude league play at home against Jordan on Oct. 13 and on the road against Lakewood on Oct. 20. Two wins in the next three weeks would mean Wilson would more than likely finish third in the Moore League and earn a coveted automatic playoff berth.
“It would be great, honestly,” Chapman explained. “That's been our goal the whole year ... It gives me a lot of motivation knowing that we can make playoffs. We just have to make it happen.”