Meadowdale backups rise to the challenge

Published 11:28 am Friday, November 16, 2007

By playing a gridiron version of musical chairs, the Meadowdale High School football team is having its best season in nearly three decades.

Meadowdale’s lineup of running backs changed often this season because of injuries and an unexpected lengthy departure. But the Mavericks adjusted to every hitch and reached the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs for the first time since 1979.

Partially fueled by two sophomore running backs — Naji Moore-Taylor and Sam Werner — who weren’t starters when the season began, Meadowdale (7-4) plays unbeaten O’Dea (11-0) 7 p.m. tonight in a Class 3A quarterfinal game at Edmonds Stadium.

Meadowdale hopes for another big performance from Moore-Taylor, whose 822 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns (in just six games) lead a team with an unusually long list of proven ball carriers. Werner and junior Darrin Dysart join Moore-Taylor as starting backs in Meadowdale’s Wing-T offense.

Beyond those two, the Mavericks still have plenty of options.

“We feel like we have five pretty reliable running backs, and (junior) Ben Shebly’s another one too. He can run the ball too if we had to go with him.”

When the season began, seniors Nick Montanari and Tonna Njoku started in the Meadowdale backfield. But after shining the first few weeks, both players endured knee injuries.

Meanwhile, Moore-Taylor, who earned a varsity letter as a freshman, rejoined the team after taking an extended family-related trip to New York. He missed four games and wasn’t eligible to play until Meadowdale’s Week 5 game against Shorecrest.

Moore-Taylor and Werner quickly emerged as capable underclassmen, combining to help the Mavericks overcome the injuries of Montanari and Njoku.

Moore-Taylor, the adopted son of Meadowdale girls basketball coach Dan Taylor, made a smooth transition from wingback to fullback. Following a few productive regular-season games, he exploded for 186 yards and five TDs in a 40-19 quad-district playoff victory over Auburn Riverside.

“Basically he got better and better and now he’s running real well,” coach Stewart said of the 6-foot, 195-pound Moore-Taylor, who averages 7.1 yards per attempt.

Moore-Taylor’s breakout season almost never happened.

During his planned August trip to New York, where many of his biological relatives live, Moore-Taylor said he realized he didn’t know if he was ready to permanently stay with his adopted family in Washington.

But after weighing his options, Moore-Taylor, who spent most of his youth living in group homes and foster care, said he decided to let go of his old family and choose a better life at Meadowdale.

“I just felt like I made the ultimate sacrifice for the good,” he said.

Moore-Taylor’s return was perfect timing for Meadowdale, which had to fill the void left by backfield injuries.

Njoku and Montanari eventually returned but their roles changed due to the success of sophomores Moore-Taylor and Werner. Coach Stewart said he wanted to bolster Meadowdale’s defense for the playoffs, so he asked Njoku and Montanari, previously two-way starters, to become full-time defenders.

It was a difficult adjustment, the seniors said, but one that has so far worked well.

“I definitely miss running the ball,” said Montanari, who Stewart called a great linebacker. “I thought I did a good job at it. But I understand (coach Stewart) is really focused on (the idea that) defense wins championships.”

“We bring more speed to the defense, so that’s better for us,” said Njoku, a free safety who has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

“Of course I love running the ball. That’s what I’ve been doing for years,” added Njoku, who while filling in for Werner had a 20-yard TD run in Meadowdale’s first-round state playoff triumph over Evergreen.

But what matters most, said Njoku, isn’t who gets to run the ball. The priority is doing whatever it takes to keep Meadowdale’s remarkable season rolling.

Contact Herald Writer Mike Cane at mcane@heraldnet.com. For more high school sports news, check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.