Published: September 04, 2008 02:30 am            

Panthers making change at QB

By SALLY SEXTON

H-P Sports Writer



In the last few years, the Westwood Panthers have been known for their offense.

The Panthers, who averaged over 467 yards a game last season, struggled in that aspect last week, gaining only 100 yards in a season-opening loss to Chapel Hill.

With the struggles on offense, Westwood head coach Kevin Anderson and his staff decided to make a major change this week.

That change will be moving senior D.J. Morrow from quarterback to running back and putting sophomore Tevin Watson into the quarterback spot.

“It could have just been one of those games where we just struggled,” Anderson said of Chapel Hill. “But we feel like this is the best move right now and it will help us establish a running game.”

This is Watson’s first year on varsity, but the sophomore got some snaps at quarterback over the summer and during the Panthers’ two scrimmages.

“Tevin has a good arm and D.J. proved he can run the ball last year. Tevin’s been working at quarterback all year,” Westwood offensive coordinator Steven Skinner said. “He didn’t have the knowledge that he has now earlier in the season but we feel like he can handle it now.”

Watson spent time on both the freshman and JV teams last season, and played quarterback in every freshman game he played in.

“Tevin gets the nod because he can throw the ball well and he is pretty elusive when he runs it,” Anderson said. “He’s young and I think that might affect him a little bit at first, but him playing quarterback is going to give us more weapons on offense.”

With the move, Morrow returns to the position he dominated last year where he carried the ball 210 for 1,655 yards and 24 touchdowns.

The senior struggled last week against Chapel Hill’s defense, rushing for negative yards.

“In high school football, you’ve got to be able to run the ball or protect the quarterback and we want to do both,” Anderson said. “D.J. at running back will make us a better team, and I think he’ll be able to get his.”

Despite the changes, the Panthers will continue to run the spread offense.

“We’re going to keep the same offense and try to just take what their defense gives us,” Skinner said. “I’m expecting good things to come out of it.”

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Sally Sexton can be reached via e-mail at sports2@palestineherald.com

        

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