Washington's Morgan recovers nicely

WHEN LARGE young men with less-than-hospitable intentions sprint toward you on the football field, fear is an obvious motivator. But, it wasn't fear of the defenders that weighed on George Washington senior Tavious Morgan last night.

After Morgan, a 5-9, 175-pounder let the opening kick bounce off his chest and trickle forward onto the turf at Northeast High, it might have been either salvage or be savaged.

"Yeah, once the ball hit me in my chest, I knew my coaches were going to snap on me, so I knew I had to make something happen," he said grinning. "And that's what I did."

After the ball hit him at the 9, Morgan corralled it near the 15 and, with a burst down the sideline, left a trail of Cardinal O'Hara defenders in his wake.

"It was a good play," teammate Nigel Sealey said. "I thought it was gonna be stopped at the 20 because he fumbled, but he made a good play."

It was an important one, too. The Eagles were able to hold off the Lions, 15-6, after both teams squandered several scoring chances.

Morgan still played his customary role in the shadows of the more ballyhooed, but this time, his contributions were recognized by all.

His huge block just before intermission, elicited "oohs" and "aahs" from teammates and sprang junior quarterback Damir Mitchell for a 17-yard rush.

"It just gives me more motivation," Morgan said. "I call myself underrated, but that's all right. Just come out here every day and play hard, and it'll show on the field."

Sealey, a 5-9, 170-pound senior running back, led all rushers with 82 yards on 18 carries and a score.

Senior back Max Ferguson led the Lions (0-2) with 53 yards on 17 carries, while seniors Brandon Laughlin (quarterback) and Darrell Jackson (receiver) hooked up seven times for 78 of Laughlin's 102 yards (12-for-21 passing). Laughlin also hit sophomore Tommy O'Hara for a late, 10-yard score in the fourth quarter.

But both defenses dictated tempo in this one. After an errant O'Hara snap sailed into the end zone in the second quarter, the score at halftime was just, 9-0.

Junior linebacker Anthony Amoroso led all tacklers with 11 (two for losses) for O'Hara. For the Eagles (1-1), senior superstar Shareef Miller played major disrupter at times with seven tackles (four for losses) and a sack. Shawn Henderson, a senior linebacker, added six.

Even when they got into scoring position, neither offense converted often. O'Hara turned it over on downs in the second quarter after a 56-yard Jackson punt return invaded deep into GW territory. Miller, a 6-5, 230-pound defensive end with offers from nearly every major college program ended that drive with a sack. Senior defensive back Terry Hall added a late interception for GW.

O'Hara also turned away the Eagles with a goal-line stand with 1:24 left in the half.

As for Morgan, who lives in the Northeast (near Levick Street and Summerdale Avenue), he's still hoping to find a college suitor. A few Division II and I-AA schools have expressed some interest, he said. But if that doesn't work, there's always his 3.7 GPA and aptitude for engineering.

"I know I need another education," he said. "Out here in this world, it's hard to make it without having a college education, so that's what I need."

So, where does that mentality come from?

"That's just my mom, Lakiea Griffin, pushing me," Morgan said.

Here's betting Morgan isn't underrated in her eyes.