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photo by Marcus Frazier
The emergance of Javon Washington (right) at quarterback has allowed Natchez to move former QB Rico Richardson (left) to wide receiver.
Freshman QB leads Natchez
Published Friday, November 2, 2007
NATCHEZ — It’s rare that a freshman quarterback takes the reigns at the football program of a 5A school.
Even rarer it is when that quarterback leads his team to the playoffs, especially when that team hasn’t made the playoffs in 10 years.
But that’s what Natchez High quarterback Javon Washington has a chance to do, if the Bulldogs can win tonight.
Natchez (5-4, 3-2 Region 3-5A) will clinch their first playoff berth since 1997 with a win over Wingfield (4-5, 2-3). Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Natchez.
“That would be quite an accomplishment,” Natchez coach Lance Reed said. “Our goal has always been to go to the playoffs and to make improvements from the previous year.”
Washington has steadily improved as a quarterback each week. His best game of the season was in last week’s 42-41 win over Terry.
Washington completed 13-of-22 passes for 209 yards and five touchdowns, including an 11-yard strike to Willie Newman for the winning points with 27 seconds left.
But going into the season, the Bulldogs never expected that a freshman quarterback would be the one to possibly lead them to the promised land.
Natchez went into the season expecting junior Rico Richardson to be quarterback.
However, with Washington’s move to the position, it has allowed Reed to move Richardson to wide receiver, a role he has flourished in.
“Going into the season, we were comfortable with Rico as our quarterback,” Reed said. “But with Javon stepping up, it has allowed us to utilize Rico at wide receiver, which has also greatly helped the team.”
That was no problem with Richardson, who enjoyed wide receiver more anyway.
“Wide receiver is the position I would be playing in college anyway,” Richardson said. “So I’m perfectly OK with (Javon) playing quarterback.”
“There are a lot of people who want attention but Rico has always been a team player,” Reed said. “Him and Javon clicked from day one.”
Richardson’s experience at the position has also allowed him to help Washington.
“He’ll get mad if he messes up sometimes and I’ll have to tell him to keep his head in the game and stay focused,” Richardson said.
While he admits that he would get nervous before his first starts, the experience he has gained this season has taken care of the nerves.
“The first two games I was kind of nervous,” Washington said. “After that, it was cool. I’ve gotten a lot of encouragement from the team and they have a lot of confidence in me.”
Washington said that leading his team to the playoffs would be extra special in his freshman season.
“It would mean a lot to me because it’s not often a freshman quarterback starts on the 5A level,” Washington said. “I want people to look at me as more than just a freshman.”
Comments
Posted by tyoung10 (anonymous) on November 2, 2007 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I knew when Javon and I used to throw in the yard when he was a about five or six years old that he was special. He would consistently throw tight spirals from about twenty yards right in my chest. I am very proud of him and the rest of the team. We will be relying on that arm tonight against a stingy Wingfield defense. They have some huge players on defense, and they are going to stack the line against us to stop the run. So we need to be effective in our passing game early, so we can establish the running game that we are certainly going to need. LET'S GO DOGS.
Posted by TRON601 (anonymous) on November 2, 2007 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do or die time. Lets go Natchez. Win and your're in. Simple as that. Good luck tonight, be safe and GOD Bless you all.
Posted by dog8 (anonymous) on November 2, 2007 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GopherBaroque, what kind of comment is that? Don't come on this board with any negativity (even if you are trying to be funny). There's no smiling in football.
Go Bulldogs!!!! There are a lot of us pulling for you guys. If you play your game, take care of the football, and limit the penalties; you will win this game.
Wingfield is a rough team. They are going to try to get you guys to lose your head. They have a reputation of playing a little dirty. Keep your composure, and smash those guys old school North Natchez Ram style.
Posted by alphamale (anonymous) on November 2, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gopher, these young men are to great players who want to get to the playoffs and do wonderful things for there themselves,school and NATCHEZ, so stop being an a$$hole.
Posted by Taahira (anonymous) on November 2, 2007 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What kind of comment is that? That sounds like a racist statement to me. If you don't have anything positive to say then stay the ___ off of the newspaper. These kids are trying to go in the right direction and do something positive and you have something negative to say. You're really ignorant.
Posted by SIOUXLADY (anonymous) on November 2, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GOPHER, WHAT KIND OF BULLDOG HAVE YOU SEEN SMILING?
Let's just stay positive.Ok? Ok.
GO BULL DOGS.
Posted by larry5198 (anonymous) on November 2, 2007 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go DAWGS!!! Hard Work Work!!! Hard Work Work!!
This is HAM (Larry Wright) from the class of 98'.... the year the DAWGS went to South State in 97.
Its good to see Natchez back in the race. I hate its been TEN years!! This is just another sign that we need to start younger with football in the area. I have traveled to many places and have had the opportunity to coach lil-league "tackle" football. And I must say that I was surprised when a 11 yr old QB call a P - 33, 24 trap. The whole team know the basics, the holes, the Gaps, the different formations, 1,2,3, routes, etc. These kids knew football 101 at the age of 10-11, 12. All the fine tunning and growing up is done at the Middle School and these young men are "Football Players" as High School Freshmen. We got to fix our Young Sports system in Natchez.
Hey! We (class of 98 and the Class of 2008) should do a Sports article when the Dawgs make the playoffs.
Posted by justice (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great point larry5198 ! Start them young just like they do in Panola .
Stick to your game plan and you'll win .
Go Bulldogs !
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