Leesburg, Va. – After starting at slot receiver all fall, Tuscarora High School junior Leron West got the call to start at running back for the Huskies when they hosted Woodgrove High School in Leesburg on September 15.
West responded to the new responsibility in every way possible, rushing for five touchdowns and nearly 300 yards, while also corralling an 88-yard touchdown pass to lead the Huskies to a 62-40 win over the Wolverines.
“I really did not expect that to happen,” West said. “I came in ready to play and because of the offensive line that happened.”
[adrotate banner=”19″]Less than five minutes into the game, West got his first chance at the goal line, where he punched in a 2-yard touchdown run to put Tuscarora up, 7-0.
Tuscarora senior defensive back Chris Broad returned a Woodgrove fumble eleven yards for a touchdown on the Wolverines’ next possession, as the Huskies controlled the momentum early.
On the ensuing Tuscarora kickoff, sophomore kicker Max Skirkanich placed the kick inches from the sideline deep in Woodgrove territory as the Huskies scrambled down field and regained possession.
Just 12 seconds later, West rumbled 22 yards down the field for his second score of the night
Then on the Wolverines’ next possession, Broad returned another Woodgrove fumble 36 yards for the Tuscarora touchdown, as the Huskies led 27-0 just eight minutes in.
Chasing four scores, Woodgrove responded well in the second quarter as junior quarterback Rick Piland ran for back-to-back 1-yard touchdown runs to open the second frame as the Wolverines pulled within 13.
“With the craziness of the turnovers and the fumbles and the scores, I think the defense got a little bit unsettled,” Tuscarora head coach Michael Burnett said. “We’ve been tremendous on defense – and I think we were in the first half – but we lost our focus.”
However, when the Tuscarora defense stumbled, West had an answer. With the momentum briefly shifted towards Woodgrove, West found an opening and took off up the middle, going 63 yards for his third of five rushing touchdowns on the night.
“The offensive line played great, and Leron did his job by making guys in the second level miss and breaking tackles,” Burnett said. “I think that was really the combination.”
After Piland and Tuscarora junior quarterback Justin Allen traded touchdowns before halftime, West got right back to it in the second half.
Midway through the third quarter – facing a 3rd-and-12 from their own 12-yard line – Allen found West for a first down and more as the junior went 88 yards to the house.
“He’s been doing a great job for us playing the slot,” Burnett said. “Because of injuries, we threw him in at tailback. From that point on, it was his ability to make plays. It was really fun to watch a kid mature like that.”
The maturing didn’t end there, however, as West ended his historic night by adding 59- and 80-yard touchdown runs.
“I couldn’t have done it without the linemen. They opened up the biggest holes I’ve ever seen,” West said. “Every time I found a hole, I just went as fast as I could. The O-line showed up tonight.”
While Leron West stole the show, the Woodgrove offense looked polished after the first quarter. Piland scored a team-high four touchdowns, while sophomore KJ Lewis added a rushing touchdown of his own. Early in the fourth quarter freshman quarterback Bailey Burton connected with junior Ben Castellano for a 5-yard pitch-and-catch.
However, the Wolverines’ offensive production wasn’t enough to make up for their early turnovers and the speed and strength of West.
Woodgrove (2-2) gets a week off to regroup, while West and the Huskies (3-1) host Potomac District foe Briar Woods High School in Leesburg on September 22.
“We didn’t know how Leron would respond, so we had a backup plan, but we just never got to do it,” Burnett said. “We had some things we wanted to try, but we decided to just keep giving him the ball. Next thing you know, he’s running down the field.”
Scoring:
1Q 7:07 T Leron West for 2-yard TD run (Skirkanich PAT)
1Q 5:49 T Chris Broad for 11-yard fumble recovery TD (Skirkanich PAT)
1Q 5:37 T Leron West for 22-yard TD run (PAT blocked)
1Q 3:50 T Chris Broad for 36-yard fumble recovery TD (Skirkanich PAT)
2Q 8:41 WG Rick Piland for 1-yard TD run (Larsen PAT)
2Q 6:59 WG Rick Piland for 1-yard TD run (Larsen PAT)
2Q 6:40 T Leron West for 63-yard TD run (Skirkanich PAT)
2Q 3:25 WG Rick Piland for 1-yard TD run (PAT failed)
2Q 3:01 T Justin Allen for 18-yard TD run (Skirkanich PAT)
3Q 5:34 T Justin Allen to Leron West for 88-yard TD run (Skirkanich PAT)
3Q 4:16 T Leron West for 59-yard TD run (Skirkanich PAT)
4Q 10:20 WG Bailey Burton to Ben Castellano for 5-yard TD run (Larsen PAT)
4Q 10:07 T Leron West for 80-yard TD run (Skirkanich PAT)
4Q 8:54 WG KJ Lewis for 7-yard TD run (Larsen PAT)
4Q 2:08 WG Rick Piland for 1-yard TD run (PAT failed)