ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Follow Ramona Shelburne as she hangs out with the kids at Birmingham High and their quest for a championship. Every week we'll show the highlights and lowlights at one of the most successful high school football programs in the area.
E-mail Ramona

Recent Comments

Categories

Powered by
Movable Type 4.01

« How does it feel? | Main | Postgame reaction »

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.

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

DAILY NEWS HEADLINES

MEDIA: OK, Phil, we're listening ...

Save for the last hole, Woods gets back in the groove

Notebook: Bryant says he's happy to be here

Five locals are part of Mitchell Report

Local fans left disillusioned after release of Mitchell Report

THE SEASON

Week 15: Two Days Later

Week 14: Mission Statement

Week 13: 19 catches

Week 12: Behind the Grin

Week 11: The Staff

Week 10: The ``Ex'' Quarterback

Week 9: Parents Just Do Understand

Week 8: Blue Chips

Week 7: The Haka

Week 6: The Big House on DeFoe Street

Week 5: Playing Through Pain

Week 4: The Natural

Week 3: Fifth Year, Second Chance

Week 2: Growing Up Under Center

Week 1: A Season Under The Lights

The Team

Birmingham Football

Videos:
  • Birmingham vs. El Camino: offensive highlights

  • Birmingham's Polynesian pre-game dance

  • Milton Knox on breaking the City rushing record

  • Birmingham vs. Chatsworth -- defensive highlights

  • Birmingham vs. Chatsworth -- offensive highlights

  • Coach Ed Croson -- post Chatsworth match

  • Milton Knox's trophy room

  • Knox's brief boxing career

  • Milton's running style

  • Knox on national TV

  • Knox's mom and uncle discuss his career

  • Birmingham: Playing hurt

  • Post-game reaction to Birmingham vs. Dorsey

  • Birmingham vs. Dorsey, offensive highlights

  • Birmingham vs. Dorsey, defensive highlights

  • Birmingham receiver De'von Flournoy

  • Birmingham vs. Notre Dame postgame reaction

  • Footage of Notre Dame's QB, Dayne Crists

  • Post-game reaction, Birmingham vs. Notre Dame, Sept. 20, 2007

  • Birmingham Coach Croson talks to his team after their game on Sept. 20, 2007

  • Birmingham vs. Notre Dame Defensive Highlights

  • Birmingham vs. Notre Dame Offensive Highlights

  • Birmingham players prepare for Norte Dame

  • Notre Dame players prepare for Birmingham match

  • Birmingham Coach Croson talks to his players after their game, 9/14

  • Post-game reactions after the Birmingham vs. Valencia game, 9/14

  • Offensive highlights from the Birmingham vs. Valencia game, 9/14

  • Defensive highlights from the Birmingham vs. Valencia game, 9/14

  • 9/7: Birmingham vs. LB Poly: Defensive Highlights

  • 9/7: Birmingham vs. LB Poly: Offensive Highlights

  • 9/7: Birmingham vs. LB Poly: Post-game reaction

  • 9/7: Coach Croson talks to the team

  • 9/7: USC coach Carroll at the game

  • Birmingham: The pregame meal

  • Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Information
    For more local Southern California news:
    Copyright © 2007 Los Angeles Newspaper Group