By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Haneef Rasheed II has been right in tune with a larger role with the Williams offense the past couple of weeks.
The senior running back has amped up production with quarterback Dan Mahan on the sideline nursing an injury.
“Big props to my offensive line,” Rasheed said. “I love my fat boys up front.”
That group will be called upon again when Southern Alamance visits Burlington Memorial Stadium on Friday night.
Kyrian Fuller has filled in admirably at quarterback for the Bulldogs as Mahan dealt with an ankle injury. Coach Patrick Stokes was noncommittal on Mahan’s status for the Central 3-A Conference opener, but he was in uniform last week and has participated in practices this week.
Rasheed has averaged 96.5 rushing yards per game and scored seven touchdowns.
“Also showing I can make plays in the big moment,” he said.
Rasheed said he likes how the Bulldogs (3-1) have adjusted offensively.
“We play the game that is given to us,” he said. “We’ve been able to showcase what we can do going into conference. We can strike fear in teams with some different things.”
Southern (3-1) is known for keeping the same run-oriented approach under coach Fritz Hessenthaler. The Patriots have attempted a total of three passes the past two games, though one of those resulted in a touchdown pass for quarterback Landon Dodson in last week’s comeback victory at Southern Nash.
Check back at alamancenews.com after the game (Fri. night/Sat. morning) for the results of this and other local games.
Dodson said earlier in the season he’d like to put the ball in the air more, but he understands the philosophy.
“I try to find the positives,” he said. “I like winning more, and like the team more than padding my stats.”
Senior Tyler Moore has been the top Southern receiver. He’s 6-foot-5.
“We’re taking more shots this year,” Moore said after three receptions in the opener. “I think it got coach’s attention when I go out there because the height and jumping ability.”
It’s not easy preparing for the Patriots, Stokes said.
“It’s difficult to simulate what they do,” he said. “But likewise, they don’t run the spread (offense like we do).”
Williams team members had extra duty Monday, when schools were in session after a weeks-long delay because of district-wide mold problems in buildings. For the Bulldogs, that meant retrieving their equipment from a stadium fieldhouse and relocating weights back to the weight room after turning a storage shed on campus into a makeshift workout area.
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