Running man....
Well, we finally got our first look at talented senior QB Exavier Johnson tonight. I'd been hearing Ex would play a little QB this week, but didn't think he'd do much since he still had a little trouble gripping the ball just 6 weeks after breaking a knuckle in his right hand. He played about four series, mostly in the first half and I have to say, WOW. Very impressive. His stats won't look like much, and people will point to the interception he threw on his very first play as evidence of rust, but once he got it going a little, it was impressive.
I knew Ex was a good scrambler, but hadn't seen him do it much in the few games I saw him play at Taft over the years. But he ran several times tonight and I really don't know if anyone is going to be able to bring him down. At this point, I'd put him right up there with the best scrambling QBs in the area... Dayne Crist and Chris Potter.
I caught up with him in the fourth quarter, as he and most of Birmingham's other starters were taking off their shoulder pads. He was walking a little slow and gingerly.
``You alright?'' I asked.
``I'm kind of sore actually,'' he said, smiling.
Running back Milton Knox was nearby and overheard the conversation.
``I told you running back isn't easy,'' Knox said. ``Toughest position on the field.''
Ex nodded. He wasn't about to argue.