After solid opener, Howard takes on FPD at Mercer

A team that tended to hit the power run game hard last year, Howard showed some new wrinkles in last week’s season opener against Lamar County.

Between a converted wide receiver who bounced off tacklers and a receiver who came up with some big catches, the Huskies’ offense took control against the Trojans, rallying from an early 13-point deficit to claim a 28-19 victory.

For head coach Barney Hester, the expansion of the Howard offense and its success against Lamar County was a positive sign heading into Thursday’s 7 p.m. neighborhood meeting with FPD at Mercer’s Five Star Stadium.

“In situations where we had to have guys step up and play hard, they did,” Hester said. “We had some very positive things from our guys.”

A team that relied on the power running of Tahjae Morant and JaQwun Stinson last year, Howard introduced another facet to its running game by giving Jerin Means, a junior who is listed as a wide receiver, some carries.

The 5-foot-6, 140-pound Means had just two rushing attempts against Lamar County. The first one was a game-changer: a 63-yard breakaway midway through the second quarter that gave Howard its first points and began to turn the tables on the Trojans.

“I made a cut, and when I saw those two (Lamar County players) coming to hit me, I lowered my shoulder,” Means said. “And when I lowered my shoulder, I spun off of them. I lowered my shoulder, turned around, and I was open and I saw the end zone.”

In the second half, a player who led Howard in receiving last year turned in the best performance of his high school career. Alphonso Stephens, who had 20 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns a year ago as a junior, pulled in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Courvoisier King two minutes into the second half to put Howard ahead 14-13.

He then had an 85-yard reception with 5:40 to go in the game that effectively put the game out of reach. Stephens finished with four catches for 134 yards.

“We just worked on our passing game the whole week. We came off the ball hard,” Stephens said. “We called some new plays, and they were open.”

FPD, which beat Howard 26-25 in overtime last year at George S. Johnson Stadium in the first meeting between the teams, will be taking part in its season opener.

The Vikings (7-4 last year) return just three starters on offense, although quarterback Will McCormick and running back Reggie Gantt are veteran leaders.

“It’s kind of like it always is when you’re playing a bunch of kids who can’t drive on Friday nights; that’s what we’re doing,” FPD head coach Greg Moore said. “It’s been really exciting as a coach, because we have an awful lot of kids who are going to play against Howard on Thursday that have not been big contributors in a varsity football game before. They’re excited and probably a little nervous, but that’s OK.

“It’s all part of the process of growing up and getting ready to be major contributors by the time they reach region games.”

This story was originally published August 26, 2015 at 8:55 PM with the headline "After solid opener, Howard takes on FPD at Mercer ."