One of them has been compared to a rampaging Mack truck. The other is more like a Ferrari, using outstanding acceleration and speed to zoom away from pursuers.
But while running backs Tony Heard of Edmonds-Woodway High School and Taylor Cox of Jackson possess vastly different physical traits, the seniors share the ability to dominate on the football field.
And here’s more bad news for their opponents: Heard and Cox spent the offseason becoming more like each other.
Heard (5-foot-11, 230 pounds) and Cox (6-0, 203) were determined to round out their skill sets. For Heard, the reigning Gatorade Washington Football Player of the Year, it meant getting faster. He ran stairs at Edmonds Stadium and did resistance training with a parachute strapped to his waist.
It worked well, said Heard, who already has received a scholarship offer from the University of Washington. The Edmonds-Woodway standout, who plays inside linebacker on defense, said he feels faster and quicker than ever.
He’s not satisfied with his 2007 performance, which included 2,238 rushing yards, 31 touchdowns and a second consecutive trip to the Class 4A semifinals.
“I just want to keep going higher,” said Heard, whose team is ranked No. 1 in The Herald’s Western Conference South Division preaseason coaches’ poll.
Meanwhile, Cox of Jackson hopes to improve on his 2007 numbers — 1,324 rushing yards and 13 TDs — after months of boosting his strength and power. Focusing on squats, he did three leg workouts every week and put on about seven pounds.
Besides getting stronger, Cox said he feels a step faster.
“I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life this year,” he said.
Heard and Cox, Wesco’s top returning rushers, each agreed it’s more important than ever to play well because this is their final prep season. Although they each have lofty individual goals, team success tops their priority lists.
After going 4-6 in each of the past two seasons, Jackson returns seven starters on offense and nine on defense — and seems capable of exceeding its No. 5 ranking in the Wesco South preseason coaches’ poll. Cox, Jackson’s career leader in rushing yards and rushing TDs, is determined to help the Timberwolves return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005, his freshman year.
“Whatever I need to do to get my team to the top, that’s my main goal. I just want to reach the postseason,” said Cox, who plays safety on defense.
Heard is equally fixated on team achievements. Many talented E-W players such as Kyle McCartney and Antoinne Wafer graduated last spring after contributing to the Warriors’ run to the 2007 state semifinals at the Tacoma Dome, where they lost 28-26 to eventual state champ Lewis &Clark.
Despite the departure of numerous key starters, E-W is once again aiming high and the players know what it takes to go all the way, Heard said. This year’s group sticks together more and has already developed a strong bond, he said.
Starting Friday, local football fans get one more season’s worth of chances to watch Heard and Cox display their talents at the prep level. Both athletes aspire to play football for an NCAA Division I program. Their high school coaches will be sorry to see them go.
“They’re both very talented and they’re both kind of special in their own unique ways. I’d take either one of them,” Jackson head coach Joel Vincent said.
John Gradwohl, E-W’s head coach, said Heard is always the most competitive guy on the field and should be even more dangerous this year because of his enhanced speed.
As for Cox, Gradwohl said the Jackson back has impressive speed and vision. Heard has received more attention because of E-W’s team success, but Cox is a very dangerous player, Gradwohl said.
“What might make him more dangerous,” Gradwohl said, “is that everybody’s thinking about Tony. Unfairly, Taylor’s gotten overlooked and he’s a hell of a back.”
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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