GREENSBORO — Believe it or not, West All-Star quarterback Josh Lee’s daydreams are not about the NFL, they’re about teaching first grade.
“I did two internships at China Grove Elementary this year,” said Lee.
And you didn’t get discouraged?
“I loved it,” said Lee. “I loved those kids.”
Actually, Lee, who graduated from A.L. Brown High in May, has the sort of sunny disposition that he pretty much loves everything — except maybe Concord High and spinach and sliders on the outside corner. And considering he’s headed to Western Carolina University, Lee may develop a healthy dislike for Appalachian in the near future.
Hey, Lee even loved last night’s 8-3 loss to the East All-Stars at Jamieson Stadium, even though it was probably as frustrating a football game as he’s ever participated in. The West team fumbled six times and the bulk of those drops were the result of botched exchanges between Lee and Anson County’s D.J. Parsons, who was trying to fill in at center for injured North Rowan star Jarrett Wishon.
“It wasn’t D.J.’s fault,” said Ron Massey, the A.L. Brown head coach, who was one of three men directing the West offense. “Our center was hurt and D.J. coulda said no when we asked him to try to play there. He didn’t say no. He said yes sir, I’ll do my best.”
Lee gave his best, too. He completed 10 of 18 passes, but all those ill-timed fumbles wrecked the West’s offense.
The field and footballs were slick from a soaking rain which started falling in the second quarter and his apprentice center was struggling, but Lee refused to make excuses.
“It was a tough night,” Lee said. “The biggest thing is that it was hard for everyone to learn an offense in just four days. It came down to executing and we didn’t do it.”
Lee had some chances. Last season, the West didn’t throw the ball a single time when another Wonder quarterback,Justin Hardin, was at the helm. But Lee got to put it in the air on his team’s third play and fired away with regularity from that point, even though much of the time he had precious little time to look downfield.
“Really, I thought our offensive line did a good job,” Lee said. “I actually had more time to throw than I did in practice this week, going up against our own defense.
“I know some of our receivers weren’t happy. They played on high school teams that threw 50 times a game (likely Lee was referring to Independence High’s Brad Hinton), so they didn’t think we were throwing enough. But I thought we threw the right amount.”
Lee had three chances to throw the deep ball, including one on the last play of the game as the West tried to salvage a contest it had kicked away. But Lee’s 40-yard heave was a trifle short of Burlington Cummings receiver Chris Baker, who had sped by an East corner. Baker got his hands on the ball, but couldn’t pull it in.
“You know, I actually thought I’d overthrown that one,” said Lee. “But Chris is a great athlete. He almost came up with it.”
“Josh had some good spots tonight,” said Massey. “But they had speed and took the deep ball away from us. We tried to make big plays, but couldn’t. What really killed us was a couple possessions in the first half when our defense gave us the ball in great position and we didn’t do what we needed to. We couldn’t find a rhythm.”
The West’s offense was so uninspired that Lee, who played all but three series, was subjected to boo-birds in the second half. There were times when Lee had to hear a smattering of the 6,817 fans chanting for the West to use its other quarterback, R.J. Reynolds’ Michael Russell.
But, to his credit, Lee never reacted to the crowd, never got discouraged, never disparaged a teammate who missed an assignment.
“This game and this week was fun. It was a great experience,” said Lee. “I thank God for it.”
Lee’s sincere when he says things like that. He’s a walking, talking role model. It’s a safe bet that the next time he curses on a football field or back-sasses a coach, will also be the first time.
Lee was a good enough player for the Wonders that he was the team’s defensive MVP as a junior linebacker and the team’s offensive MVP as a senior quarterback. And yet, when his coaches spout that tried-and-true cliche that he’s an even better person than he is a player, this is one of those occasions when you can believe them.
As miserable as last night was, Lee came through it with head held high. This morning he’s a better and tougher person from that trial.
And one more thing.
If this guy does wind up as your child’s first-grade teacher, your kid can do a whole lot worse.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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