North Jackson running back Omar Brown is tackled by a group of DAR defenders during their prep football game against DAR at North Jackson High School on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, in Stevenson, Ala.STEVENSON, Ala. - The question isn't what to expect. That's a given. There's simply no need for trickery with one of the area's best 1-2 punches lining up in the backfield.
The bigger issue for defensive units facing North Jackson's offense is stopping what they know is coming.
The senior combination of quarterback Trey Harris and running back Omar "Tank" Brown hits defenders with a dose of speed and brute force that has the Chiefs challenging for a possible 19th region championship in the program's 27-year history.
Harris (5-foot-11, 170) and Brown (5-10, 195) have combined for more than 1,300 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns in four games, while the rest of the team has rushed for fewer than 250 yards total and two TDs.
"It's no secret who's going to have the ball in their hands most of the time for us," Chiefs coach Mark Rose said. "We've had some really good backs before but never a quarterback/running-back tandem like this. Trey runs the offense like a point guard in basketball. He can make people miss anywhere on the field, and if he gets a step he's gone. He's just dangerous any time he touches the ball, and that balances out the formation so people can't just key on Tank.
"Tank is like a Tasmanian devil, he's just fearless with how he throws his body around. He's a relentless runner, and when you need the tough yards, he'll lower his head and get extremely physical."
The Chiefs' bruising backfield will be challenged tonight when county rival Scottsboro visits R.D. Hicks Stadium in a battle of state-ranked foes. The Wildcats (4-0 and ranked No. 7 in Class 5A) have a dangerous backfield duo of their own with senior runner DeKarlos Billingsley and sophomore quarterback Bo Nix both averaging better than 10 yards per carry in combining for more than 1,100 yards.
North Jackson, ranked No. 9 in 4A, has dominated the series, but Scottsboro has won two of the last three meetings, including last year's two-point thriller.
North Jackson has produced more than a dozen all-state runners, including most recently Octavius Matthews, who went on to become the nation's top-ranked junior college back last season and has committed to Auburn. But the Chiefs never had two all-state caliber players in the same backfield until this season.
"It really helps both of us to have each other back there, because teams can just load up to stop one person. We feel like either one of us can get the job done and help the team win," Brown said. "I've always liked being physical. If we just keep pounding it at people, they will usually lay down in the fourth quarter because they're tired of getting hit.
"Even when I was smaller, I knew if you have heart you can play a lot bigger than you really are. You just have to be willing to lay it on the line for your team."
Brown, who gained nearly 20 pounds since last season to become more physical, ranks second among tri-state area rushers and scorers with 809 yards (8.8 per carry) and 14 touchdowns. That's already more than halfway to last year's 12-game rushing and scoring totals. He also averages more than 28 yards per kickoff return and is being recruited by Middle Tennessee State, Troy and South Alabama.
Harris, who totaled more than 2,400 yards of offense last year, is averaging 15 yards per play. He tied the program record with a 39.5-inch vertical jump and already has an offer from Memphis, among others. In last week's region win over Sardis, Harris ran wild, gaining 228 yards (16.3 per carry), while Brown added 165 yards. Each scored three TDs, including a 65-yarder by Harris in the third quarter to put the game away.
After a season-opening loss to Class 6A Cullman, the Chiefs have scored 40-plus points in winning three straight region games by double digits. Brown and Harris have each rushed for more than 100 yards in those wins.
"They're explosive together, and that's what makes us go," Rose said. "They're also two of the best leaders and best young men I've ever been associated with. They want to win at everything they do and won't put up with anybody around them that doesn't feel the same.
"They both have a long history of guys in their family who played here, too, so they understand what this program means and they're willing to do what it takes to keep it going."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis