STEENS — Nate Parker had plenty of time to think about the possibilities.
After watching senior quarterback Dawson Shaw suffer a knee injury in the season opener against Heritage Academy, the Columbus Christian Academy junior had a feeling his role was going to change. Parker’s worst fears were confirmed when he learned that Shaw, one of the team’s vocal and on-field leaders, had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
As he digested that news, Parker had to wrap his mind around what Columbus Christian coach Greg Watkins already had told him: He was going to see a bigger role at quarterback.
“I felt bad for (Shaw), but I am comfortable playing quarterback,” Parker said. “Coach Watkins told me he was going to work me in (right after the loss to Heritage Academy). I thought maybe I might be the one who moved into that role, but we also have other people, so I really didn’t know.”
The confidence Parker had in himself to handle the transition from running back to quarterback came to the surface last week, as Parker helped lead Columbus Christian to a come-from-behind 18-14 victory against Kirk Academy in Grenada. Watkins said Parker took about 90 percent of the snaps and did a good job helping the Rams even their record at 1-1.
“We just kept playing and didn’t think about the score,” said Parker, about the team’s ability to rally from a 14-0 deficit in the first half. “I think I did OK. I felt pretty comfortable.”
Columbus Christian will try to build on that effort at 7 tonight when it plays at Sylva-Bay Academy. It will try to do that with Parker likely under center for his second varsity start. He said the playing time he saw against Kirk Academy marked his first extended time at quarterback since the ninth grade, when he considered himself more of a runner than a passer.
RJ DeLoach scored the go-ahead touchdown at the end of the third quarter, and Kelvin Mitchell had two interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter to help preserve the victory.
Shaw, who was scheduled to have surgery to repair his ACL on Thursday, dressed out for the game against Kirk Academy and was on the sideline to lend vocal support. Watkins said his presence helped give Parker another source of confidence and encouragement.
“Nate grew up during track season,” said Watkins, whose boys track and field team won the Class AA State title last season. “I think his confidence level and his drive picked up during track season because he was determined he wasn’t going to finish second. He brought that confidence to the football field. The other night you never would have thought he had only practiced (running those plays at quarterback) for a week.”
Parker, who won the 300 hurdles (43.47 seconds) and was third in the 400 (53.68), said he had confidence the Rams were going to be able to come back from the early deficit. He said he learned a valuable lesson not to get down because a team’s fortunes can change quickly.
Shaw said he thought Parker did a good job in his first start, but he saw signs of potential. Still, he said it was difficult for him not to think about being out on the field and helping his team.
“When I did it, I pretty much knew I more than likely would be done,” Shaw said. “But there is a reason for this. I am not just stuck here. I feel like if I am on the sideline I might as well be on the sideline cheering them on.”
Shaw said he hopes to be there for his teammates every game the rest of the way. He said his goal is to work as hard through the multi-month recovery period and come back as soon as possible. He hopes he will be able to come back in time for the end of the football season, if not for some part of the boys basketball team’s season. Last season, the Columbus Christian boys basketball team won the Class AA State title and advanced to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Overall State tournament.
“I kind of felt like a coach,” Shaw said of being on the sideline for the game against Kirk Academy. “If they see me cheering them on, it kind of helps them mentally. Nate is new at quarterback, and I feel like I can give him a little advice when he throws a bad pass or gets sacked or there is a bad snap to help him keep his head up because the next play has to be better than the last one.”
Watkins said Parker didn’t work at quarterback any the week of the Heritage Academy game. He said he told Parker he planned to work him into some of the sets the following week to give the Rams multiple looks. The injury to Shaw forced Watkins to work Parker even more than expected.
“He seemed to do real well,” Watkins said. “He missed a couple of passes that he got frustrated with. He really didn’t miss a couple of him. You could tell he didn’t feel comfortable. He couldn’t see the receiver breaking into the open. I told him a couple of times just to be confident and to look at his reads and know the receiver was going to be there. As the game went on, you could see his confidence go up.”
That is a good sign for the Rams, who will miss Shaw’s presence on the field. Watkins knows Shaw’s competitive spirit from football, basketball, baseball, and nearly every other sport at the school. He said Tyler Beaird and LT Stowers also could see time at quarterback as the Rams try to continue to give themselves the option of having multiple looks with different personnel.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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