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Football: Little brother taking down big records
Lions' Ezell surpasses sibling in 3 more categories
Originally published October 27, 2012
By Greg Swatek
John Ezell once mentioned something about his sons, Quentin and Avery, to Joe Polce that the Walkersville football coach had trouble believing right away.
"He told me that Avery (younger by two years) was going to be even better than Quentin," Polce said.
Quentin Ezell seemed like that once-in-a-few decades running back, especially at a small school like Walkersville. A bigger back than his brother, he treated defenders like bowling pins. And if they weren't standing in his way, he'd drag them for huge chunks of yards and often into the end zone.
During his senior season, he rushed for 1,791 yards and 22 touchdowns ----both school records at the time -- on 217 carries. He accepted an offer to play for the Naval Academy after the 2010 season.
It seemed patently unfair to expect Avery to reach such lofty standards himself once he took over for his brother. Not wanting to burden Avery with unrealistic standards, the Walkersville coaches have always shied away from making such comparisons. Except, with each passing week, it's becoming nearly impossible to avoid them.
On Friday night, Avery Ezell wiped three more of big brother's records off the school record books and closed in on two others during Walkersville's 55-30 road win at Frederick, which raised the Lions' record to 9-0.
Ezell rushed for 239 yards and five touchdowns on 30 carries. In the process, he passed Quentin's marks for touchdowns in a season (22), most rushing touchdowns in a career (35) and most points in a season (144).
With still a game to play in the regular season, Avery has rushed for 25 touchdowns, giving him 37 for his career. He has now scored 150 points this season.
Within reach are Quentin's records for yards in a season (1,789) and yards for a career (3,041). Avery has rushed for 1,765 yards on 248 attempts this season. He has 2,662 yards for his career.
When asked what his brother might think about taking down all of his records, which already included most rushing yards in a game (352) earlier this season, Avery said, "He's really proud of me, actually."
Ezell's personality doesn't match up with his record-breaking numbers. He's quiet and modest. He'd rather talk about what a teammate did to help earn a win rather than his own contributions.
"If you'd see him during the school day, you'd never know he was one of the best running backs in the state," Polce said.
That's why it was so hard for people, even Polce himself, to believe what John Ezell was telling him about Avery. Polce gave him a funny look when John said Avery was going to be better.
"He said Avery is a better runner than Quentin," Polce said. "Quentin is a big bruiser and runs right over top of everybody. But Avery has better vision. He's a little bit more shifty and makes cuts in the holes and things like that."
Frederick (6-3), meanwhile, paid a steep price in the game that extended well beyond Ezell running wild.
In addition to seeing their playoff hopes flicker out in all likelihood in a fiercely competitive region (the Class 3A West), the Cadets lost their senior quarterback Matt Hynes to what is feared to be a fracture in his right foot.
Hynes, who became Frederick's all-time leader for passing yards earlier in the game, was injured in the final two minutes of the first half as he made a short pass to the sideline.
After picking himself off the turf and taking a few ginger steps back toward the huddle, he was eventually helped off the field by two people, an arm around each shoulder.
Hynes moved around the sideline on crutches for the rest of his game. His right foot was in a black boot. He was on his way to the hospital after the game to have the foot X-rayed.
At the time of his injury, Hynes had completed 16 of 20 passes for 225 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior Jerron Smith.
Yet the Cadets still found themselves in a 42-14 deficit at the time of his injury.
His backup, junior Minase Shiferaw, came in a tossed a 53-yard scoring pass to Smith on his first series. But Frederick could not keep pace with Walkersville.
The Lions, at long last, could shift their attention to Middletown, the only team that has beaten them in the last two seasons, and next week's Battle of the Unbeatens with the Knights.
The top seed and homefield advantage throughout the 2A West playoffs will be at stake.
"Listen to me," Polce said to his team in the postgame huddle. "Next week is going to be crazy."
Before sending them off to enjoy their latest victory, the 19th in their last 21 games, Polce reminded them again, "Our home field is going to be rocking Friday night."
Football: Little brother taking down big records
Lions' Ezell surpasses sibling in 3 more categories
Originally published October 27, 2012
By Greg Swatek
John Ezell once mentioned something about his sons, Quentin and Avery, to Joe Polce that the Walkersville football coach had trouble believing right away.
"He told me that Avery (younger by two years) was going to be even better than Quentin," Polce said.
Quentin Ezell seemed like that once-in-a-few decades running back, especially at a small school like Walkersville. A bigger back than his brother, he treated defenders like bowling pins. And if they weren't standing in his way, he'd drag them for huge chunks of yards and often into the end zone.
During his senior season, he rushed for 1,791 yards and 22 touchdowns ----both school records at the time -- on 217 carries. He accepted an offer to play for the Naval Academy after the 2010 season.
It seemed patently unfair to expect Avery to reach such lofty standards himself once he took over for his brother. Not wanting to burden Avery with unrealistic standards, the Walkersville coaches have always shied away from making such comparisons. Except, with each passing week, it's becoming nearly impossible to avoid them.
On Friday night, Avery Ezell wiped three more of big brother's records off the school record books and closed in on two others during Walkersville's 55-30 road win at Frederick, which raised the Lions' record to 9-0.
Ezell rushed for 239 yards and five touchdowns on 30 carries. In the process, he passed Quentin's marks for touchdowns in a season (22), most rushing touchdowns in a career (35) and most points in a season (144).
With still a game to play in the regular season, Avery has rushed for 25 touchdowns, giving him 37 for his career. He has now scored 150 points this season.
Within reach are Quentin's records for yards in a season (1,789) and yards for a career (3,041). Avery has rushed for 1,765 yards on 248 attempts this season. He has 2,662 yards for his career.
When asked what his brother might think about taking down all of his records, which already included most rushing yards in a game (352) earlier this season, Avery said, "He's really proud of me, actually."
Ezell's personality doesn't match up with his record-breaking numbers. He's quiet and modest. He'd rather talk about what a teammate did to help earn a win rather than his own contributions.
"If you'd see him during the school day, you'd never know he was one of the best running backs in the state," Polce said.
That's why it was so hard for people, even Polce himself, to believe what John Ezell was telling him about Avery. Polce gave him a funny look when John said Avery was going to be better.
"He said Avery is a better runner than Quentin," Polce said. "Quentin is a big bruiser and runs right over top of everybody. But Avery has better vision. He's a little bit more shifty and makes cuts in the holes and things like that."
Frederick (6-3), meanwhile, paid a steep price in the game that extended well beyond Ezell running wild.
In addition to seeing their playoff hopes flicker out in all likelihood in a fiercely competitive region (the Class 3A West), the Cadets lost their senior quarterback Matt Hynes to what is feared to be a fracture in his right foot.
Hynes, who became Frederick's all-time leader for passing yards earlier in the game, was injured in the final two minutes of the first half as he made a short pass to the sideline.
After picking himself off the turf and taking a few ginger steps back toward the huddle, he was eventually helped off the field by two people, an arm around each shoulder.
Hynes moved around the sideline on crutches for the rest of his game. His right foot was in a black boot. He was on his way to the hospital after the game to have the foot X-rayed.
At the time of his injury, Hynes had completed 16 of 20 passes for 225 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior Jerron Smith.
Yet the Cadets still found themselves in a 42-14 deficit at the time of his injury.
His backup, junior Minase Shiferaw, came in a tossed a 53-yard scoring pass to Smith on his first series. But Frederick could not keep pace with Walkersville.
The Lions, at long last, could shift their attention to Middletown, the only team that has beaten them in the last two seasons, and next week's Battle of the Unbeatens with the Knights.
The top seed and homefield advantage throughout the 2A West playoffs will be at stake.
"Listen to me," Polce said to his team in the postgame huddle. "Next week is going to be crazy."
Before sending them off to enjoy their latest victory, the 19th in their last 21 games, Polce reminded them again, "Our home field is going to be rocking Friday night."
