By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
MOUNT ULLA ó After opening camp with a trio of capable candidates, West Rowan has a clear-cut starter at quarterback.
The Falcons discovered one way to keep Brantley Horton, Jon Crucitti and B.J. Sherrill involved in the passing game at the same time:
A play called QB-3.
Horton and Crucitti regularly line up as receivers with Sherrill taking the majority of snaps, and all three touched the ball during a gadget play that kickstarted West’s 41-7 victory against Statesville.
“I think it’s pretty cool that it happened,” Horton said. “It incorporates all three of us. Whether we’re quarterbacks now or not, we’ve all been at some time.”
Horton, who finished the game with five catches for 119 yards and two scores, set up West’s first touchdown with a 51-yard reception.
Sherrill handed off to tailback K.P. Parks on the second play from scrimmage, and Parks ran left before giving the ball Crucitti.
Crucitti, a Mooresville transfer, rolled back toward the center of the field and fired a long pass to Horton. Crucitti made sure not to overthrow a wide-open Horton, who slowed up to make the grab. He reached Statesville’s 4-yard line, and Parks scored on the next play.
“We planned that pass ó a little trickery from Jon that we call ‘QB-3’ ó and I think we’re a lot better passing team this year than we’ve been in the past,” Horton said.
That’s an interesting admission coming from Horton, the team’s starting quarterback as a junior.
He made 17 catches for 321 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore, then moved to QB for the 2007 season. West won another conference title as he threw for 898 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Sherrill, a freshman at the time, contributed as a quarterback, receiver and running back.
Sherrill has thrown for 517 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions through five games this season. Horton leads the county with 383 receiving yards and five TD catches.
“I think I’m a better wide receiver than I am a quarterback and have probably known that all along,” Horton said. “It doesn’t really bother me. I’m all about what’s best for the team, and if we’re a better team with me playing wide receiver and B.J. playing quarterback, then that’s how I want it to be.”
Horton fell ill on the eve of the Statesville game. He started throwing up at 8:30 p.m. and didn’t stop until 4 a.m. He visited a doctor Friday morning and suited up for the Falcons later that night.
West pulled ahead 22-0 following Horton’s 10-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and Sherrill hit Horton with a 37-yard strike midway through the third quarter.
With Statesville employing man-to-man coverage in heavy rain, West coach Scott Young expected his team to have success through the air. Horton, Crucitti and Sherrill didn’t disappoint in the early going.
“You’re all sharing to achieve one common goal,” Young said. “Those are good kids, and all three are part of our offense.”