Tuscarora's Abu Kiawu did not score his team's first touchdown in last Saturday's game against Winters Mill (that was running back Caleb Stennis). But he did rack up every touchdown after that en route to a 35-10 Titans victory, their first of the season.
On a career day for the senior quarterback/safety, Kiawu tallied 259 rushing yards and four touchdowns, threw for 25 more yards, took a punt back 80 yards and recorded five tackles and forced a fumble. The rushing yards and touchdowns were school records, according to Kiawu.
"I've had other memorable games before over my career," said the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Kiawu, who literally played every snap. "But never a game like this. This was big - something real special. Everything was just clicking."
Offensively, Kiawu quickly found his rhythm running behind a big offensive line that dominated Winters Mill up front. Given a crease to run, Kiawu used his 4.4 40-yard dash speed and ankle-breaking moves to bust through a defense that could barely get a hand on him.
"With the way my line was playing, you could probably drive several trucks through those holes," Kiawu said. "I owe a great deal of what I was able to do to those guys."
After taking a 7-0 lead, Tuscarora got the ball back late in the first quarter. On first down from the Winters Mill 30-yard line Kiawu tried an inside handoff to the fullback. But Kiawu bobbled the snap and never made the exchange. Instead of panicking, however, the heady quarterback scooped up the ball, raced through a hole and scored his first touchdown.
"It was a broken play," Kiawu said. "I just ran to daylight and somehow ended up in the end zone."
That turned out to be Kiawu's shortest touchdown run of the day. His next three scores were from 76, 65 and 52 yards out.
"It was like no one could touch me," Kiawu said. "I made one cut, the receivers blocked down and then I out-ran the defense from there."
Now, Kiawu didn't score every time he touched the ball. On a Winters Mill punt he dropped back as the return man - Tuscarora's regular returner was out with a leg injury - around his own 20. Kiawu proceeded to make the first man miss before hitting the open field and turning on the jets. But a Winters Mill defender caught him at the 5-yard line.
"Yeah he tripped me up," Kiawu said. "I shouldn't have gotten caught."
With all the success he had running and returning the football, Kiawu never had to put it in the air. But he did attempt one pass, which, naturally, went for a 25-yard completion.
"I can throw the ball, too; I have a good arm," Kiawu said. "But I just didn't have to pass with the run working so well."
When Kiawu didn't have the ball in his hands, he was trying to pry it loose on defense. On one play a Winters Mill 'back took a screen pass and tried to angle upfield. But Kiawu shot up from free safety, laid a hit and knocked the ball loose.
"Whether I'm at quarterback, running back, safety or returning kicks, I just want to make plays for my team," Kiawu said. "I'll do whatever it takes for us to win."
Tuscarora came away with a decisive victory against Winters Mill, but the Titans have yet to play the likes of Urbana, Thomas Johnson and Linganore. If they want to sniff the playoffs, Kiawu has to work his magic against those MVAL juggernauts.
"We're going to have to work even harder and play even better to win those games," Kiawu said. "But I'm confident in our team. We believe we can win."
Top Performers (Offense):
Wes Brown, RB, Good Counsel: 131 yards, 2 TDs
Brendan Marshall, QB, Good Counsel: 188 yards, TD
Kendall Fuller, WR, Good Counsel: about 100 total yards
Shane Cockerille, QB, Gilman: over 150 total yards, 3 TDs
Cyrus Jones, WR/RB, Gilman: 128 total yards, TD
Calvinaugh Jones, RB, Meade 194 yards, 2 TDs
Tyree Turner, QB, Meade, 238 yards, 4 TDs
Eric Kerns, WR, Meade: 8 receptions, 141 yards, 3 TDs
Paul Russell, QB, Annapolis: 111 yards, 2 TDs
Kyle Jennings, QB, Linganore: over 150 total yards, 4 TDs
Tony DellaValle, WR, Lingaore: over 100 yards, 3 TDs
Zach Welch, RB, Middletown: 100 yards, TD
Chris Schnider, QB, Landon: 120 yards, TD
Joe McDonald, WR, Landon: 5 receptions, 100 yards, TD
Tony Squirewell, WR, McNamara: over 100 total yards
Milan Collins, QB, McNamara: 113 yards, rushing TD
Jackson Thornton, QB, Franklin: over 100 yards, TD
Lavelle McCullers, QB, Havre de Grace: over 120 yards, 2 TDs
*Note: It is possible, with hundreds and hundreds of names flying across the wire, that some offensive standout was overlooked. Also, defensive statistics are not included since a) some teams do not keep them and b) they aren't always reliable.