One of the key factors in Boyd Buchanan's continued resurgence on the football field has been the emergence of quarterback Eli Morris. The junior's dual-threat abilities were on full display during last weekend's 49-21 nonregion win at Hixson, a game that was postponed by lightning Friday night and completed on Saturday afternoon.
Morris compiled 320 total yards and two touchdowns - completing 11 of 21 passes for 186 yards and rushing for 134 rushing yards in nine carries to help the Buccaneers roll up 524 yards of total offense.
That performance, which helped the Bucs improve to 4-1 at the midway point of the season, also earned Morris the distinction of Times Free Press prep player of the week.
"It all starts with our front five," Morris said. "All of them are excellent blockers, and we have great runners, and all of that takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders so I can just sit back and make the right decisions.
"It really helps the team for me to be a dual-threat guy. I believe I can make plays passing or using my legs to run. Our system works very well, and by winning the way we have to begin the season we've started to realize how good we really are. At the start of the season nobody really knew. Now we do."
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Boyd Buchanan's Eli Morris (18) goes to throw a pass agianst Chattanooga Christian at David Stanton Field on the campus of Chattanooga Christian School on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn.Morris, who has 1,292 total yards and 12 TDs through five games and also punts and is the holder on field goals and extra points, scored on runs of 56 and 22 yards and hit six different receivers against the Wildcats.
Boyd Buchanan led Hixson 21-7 with four minutes remaining before halftime when the game was postponed Friday. The Bucs picked up Saturday where they left off, striking for three more scores in the third quarter. Freshman Matt Stone added 102 rushing yards and two TDs, and classmate Caden Johnson finished with 151 total yards.
"It wasn't the ideal situation with the game getting postponed, but the attitude to adapt and overcome was great by our kids," Bucs coach Jeremy Bosken said. "Eli is a great leader. As a quarterback he's exactly what you want because he distributes to our other playmakers, but if you cover the other weapons he'll tuck and run it, and he's a lot faster than he looks.
"He's a dynamic player for us, and what's just as impressive are some of the things that make him a great teammate. When someone else scores he's the first one in the end zone to celebrate, and he comes in early during the week to study film with our offensive coaches, which winds up making him like having another coach on the field. He's a great example for our younger players."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.