QB Rucker leads Fels playoff rout over Bartram

Bill Harrigan, Fels' head football coach, thinks he has the best quarterback in the Public League. And Friday's opening-round playoff game - A 50-8 Fels win over Bartram - showed why.

Tyree Rucker – a 5-foot-8, 150-pound senior – ran Fels' spread option offense to perfection, scorching the Bartram defense for 107 yards rushing, 239 yards passing and five total touchdowns (two on the ground, three through the air) in the first half alone at Northeast High School. After the Panthers bolted to a 50-point halftime lead, Rucker threw two incompletions to begin the third quarter before coming out of the game.

"He's the best quarterback in the city, hands down," Harrigan said after the game. "Week in, week out he's proven it. I couldn't be happier with his performance today."

Next week, Fels - 7-2 overall, and 6-0 in league play - will face regular season Public League champion Northeast. Fels shares Northeast's home field, Charles Martin Memorial Stadium.

Of Rucker's five scores, three were for 30 yards or more. On the team's second offensive series, Rucker broke a 40-yard run for a touchdown, cart-wheeling into the end zone (and drawing a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct for the celebration).

On Fels' next drive, he threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Jared Hines. Early in the second quarter, Rucker connected with Chris Miller for a 47-yard TD, and on the drive after that, with Kevin Burton for a 34-yard score.

"I love for him to have that much confidence in me because I love my coach," Rucker said when asked about the confidence Harrigan has in him. "I'm glad he has that much confidence in me and I agree with him (that I'm the best quarterback in the Public League)."

Bartram, which is 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the Public League Class AAAA Gold Division, was fundamentally and technically overmatched in this game generating little offense. The Braves' lone score came with 5:13 remaining when Russel Calloway made a sensational one-handed catch, thrown by Adrese Perkins, and ran for a 54-yard TD.

Fels elected to keep passing the ball late in the opening half despite a large lead. When asked about the decision, Harrigan said he calls plays based on what the defense dictates.

"They loaded up the box and they were bringing a lot of pressure," Harrigan said, "and that gave me the real easy throws."

Bartram coach Mark Effendian said the difference Friday was the athleticism of Fels' receivers and complimented Rucker.

"He's a heck of an athlete and a smart football player," Effendian said. "Calm, cool and he did his thing today."

Bartram   0 0 0 8 - 8

Fels 20 30 0 0 - 50

F: Rucker 1 run (pass failed)

F: Rucker 40 run (pass failed)

F: Hines 57 pass from Rucker (Kelly pass from Rucker)

F: Brown run 1 (Hines pass from Rucker)

F: Miller 24 pass from Rucker (Rucker run)

F: Burton 34 pass from Rucker (Hines pass from Rucker)

F: Kelly 15 pass from Smith (run failed)

B: Calloway 54 pass from Perkins (Perkins run)