By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
The Catawba notebook …
The icepack on starting quarterback Howard Williamson’s shoulder following Saturday’s 41-29 victory over Elizabeth City State was a little scary.
Entering the season, Catawba fans were worried about Williamson.
After two games, they’re far more worried about life without him.
He’s been better than anyone could reasonably have anticipated. In the loss to St. Augustine’s, he was OK.
Against Elizabeth City State, in his second start, he was downright good. Two TDs, 218 passing yards, several nice improvisational runs and no picks.
” Howard doesn’t turn it over, and turnovers are the worst thing a quarterback can do,” running back Jamelle Cuthbertson said. “People are criticizing Howard for holding the ball too long, but he’s not going to make a pass he’s not sure of. A lot of times those are the passes that turn into picks and big momentum swings.
“What the team has found out about Howard is he’s not going to lose games. Now we just have to rally around him and help him win.”
Catawba coach Chip Hester also likes what he’s seen.
“The offense is starting to find an identity after that first game where I think we were maybe looking around for guys who are not here anymore,” he said. “On Saturday, Howard made a play we would not have made in years past. They had a screen covered, and last year we’d have just had to throw that ball away. But Howard makes a couple of guys miss and then dives for a first down.”
As far as Williamson’s health, he was confident after the game he’d be fine. Hester said he took limited practice snaps Monday because of shoulder soreness, but he expects him to answer the bell in Saturday night’s Mayor’s Cup game at Livingstone.
“He’s a tough guy,” Hester said. “We really expect him to be in there at close to 100 percent.”
* BACKUPS: Patrick Dennis, the No. 2 quarterback, had no completions and one pick in three passing attempts Saturday, but he ran the offense confidently.
Hester added that that No. 3 man, former North Rowan standout Daniel Griffith, got more reps than usual Monday with Williamson limited and took advantage of the extended look.
* WINNERS: Catawba defensive end Marqus Davis was the SAC Defensive Player of the Week after registering two sacks and 31/2 tackles for loss against Elizabeth City.
“I pride myself on my aggressiveness,” Davis said. “Our first game I was just thinking too much out there, but this time I was a lot more relaxed, a lot looser.”
Davis’ biggest play was a sack, strip and fumble return for a fourth-quarter touchdown that sealed victory.
Davis actually jumped up off his back to make the return, but the sack and strip were legit and impressive.
“The touchdown probably should have come back, but bottom-line, it was still a great play by Marqus,” Hester said.
Catawba coaches figure a defensive player should be in on a tackle on every five snaps to grade out a winner.
Davis logged a fantastic “production number” Saturday, but he still had to share Catawba Defensive Player of the Week honors with senior linebacker Charles McAfee, who had 10 tackles, including five for loss.
McAfee was a monster in the second half.
* NO WINNERS: Special teams were an issue for the Indians on Saturday. There was a fouled-up punt and a missed PAT as well as Elizabeth City State returning a kickoff for a touchdown, so no Special Teams Player of the Week was recognized.
* OLD FORM: Catawba bullied Elizabeth City for 248 rushing yards, a week after managing 64 against St. Augustine’s.
“A lot of times we’ll have two of our guys double-teaming one defense lineman and then also getting to a linebacker,” Hester said. “It’s all built on teamwork and timing, and our guys worked as a unit a lot better this time. The first game, we always had a guy out of sync, but against Elizabeth City we saw the sort of line play we anticipated. We strive to get our backs to the safety, and our guys did that. (Left tackle) Terence Crosby had a whale of a game, and just about everyone graded out.”
* BACKS TO THE FUTURE: Cuthbertson said the future of Catawba’s running game is in good hands ó and feet ó with freshman Princeton Brooks, who currently backs up Cuthbertson and Antonio Hall, and touted freshmen Bobby Morrison, a flash from West Iredell who is sidelined by a broken foot.
“Princeton is like my little brother, and I do mess with him a lot,” Cuthbertson said with a grin. “I keep telling him we need him to play right now, and he is way ahead of where I was as a freshman. It took me a year, plus a spring, to learn the playbook.
“Morrison is hurt, but he comes to all the meetings, and he’s smart. Coach asks a question, he always knows the answer. Princeton and Bobby are like two peas in a pod. They’re going to be good here a long time.”
* THUMBS UP: Catawba coaches feared offensive lineman Cody Corn, a former Shrine Bowler who is challenging the starters, was going to be out for an extended period with a broken hand, but his injury has been downgraded to a sprained thumb.
He’s been cleared to play with a cast and a thick pad.
* SIR BLUR: Brian Terwilliger, who played quarterback on Wilmington New Hanover teams coached by current Catawba defensive coordinator John Fitz, has an unusual burst of speed
Terwilliger, who went to Lenoir-Rhyne before transferring to Catawba, rushed five times for 58 yards, caught four passes and completed a pass on Saturday.
“He can run, throw and catch, and he really is a weapon,” Hester said. “Coach (Matt) Barrett did a great job mixing him in.”