.jpg?v=1715296558){kind=logo}
K.K. Edward’s is a receiver for Rocky Mount High School’s varsity football team.
The play was a run to the left side of the field, away from where receiver KK Edwards lined up. But the Rocky Mount High senior put on a move, and ran a slant to beat his defender during last week’s win over Havelock.
Edwards knew he wasn’t going to get the ball. It wasn’t even going to be a pass. But he still ran his route hard, something he trained himself to do. He knows about the benefits of approaching each play like the ball is coming his way, and tiring out his defender is an added bonus.
“I got to keep them alert, just keep the defense alert,” Edwards said. “If I work hard, they’re going to have to pay attention to me. That just takes away some of their attention to whatever else we might be doing.”
Edwards is the perfect high-energy player for the Gryphons, as he keeps them just balanced enough so that opposing defenses can’t solely plan to shut down the run. He has put together his best season of his high school career, and learned to make the most of his opportunities when they do come his way.
Edwards saw varsity playing time his sophomore season, and turned four catches into 74 yards. That was a run-heavy team with the leading receiver making 24 catches. Edwards then jumped to the top of the receiving ranks his junior season and led RMH with 26 catches for 514 yards.
This season, he grew into his body by adding about 20 pounds to his 5-foot, 10-inch frame, and proved to be a dynamic pass-catching option. His blend of speed and strength makes for a prime target. He already has 45 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns. And what’s more impressive is that he’s the only true receiver on the team.
Running back Charlie Williams is second on the Gryphons with seven catches, and only four players have more than two receptions. It’s all up to Edwards to give quarterback Shabois Lynch a target to pass to, a challenge that Edwards has been preparing himself for the past three seasons.
“Most of the time, since we normally come out in one receiver, the defense will press,” Edwards said. “So I get a lot of man-to-man, and if it’s man-to-man, it’s easier for me because I just have one guy to beat.”
Edwards is the perfect man defense beater. He toyed with the Southern Guilford defense in the Gryphons’ third-round win by scoring a touchdown after out-running the entire defense, and by almost adding a second score on a tough corner route against a tall defensive back. He credits his ability to handle different types of play styles to his teammates, cornerbacks Shyheim Battle and Isaac Edge.
Battle, a long 6-2, is problematic for receivers as he can reach his arms around to deflect passes. Edge, an agile body at 5-7, can run with receivers and break on route. Edwards gets both styles each day and perfects his plan on how to create space.
“It helps out a lot,” Edwards said. “Just by getting the dfference between them. A taller, bigger guy is more on your route. He’ll use his hands to get into you and bump you off so you have to be into your route. But a guy my size or little smaller, it’s about skill and technique.”
Sometimes teams with a strong defense like to blitz in hopes to stop RMH’s powerful rushing attack, and they’ll use a safety to cover Edwards. He’s seen this, too, when teammate Detrell Revis gets the call to guard Edwards. Revis is one of the more athletic and dynamic players on the Gryphons roster. He can defend the pass, as well as help in run stuffing situations.
And when guarding Edwards, Revis gets a taste of what a big challenge it is.
“The thing about KK is that he is going to talk trash to you the whole time you’re on him,” Revis said. “He’s going to let you hear it every time you’re near him. For some guys, that’s enough to take them out of the game. I’ve seen him get in people’s heads like he broke them.
“He’ll talk to me like that, but I give it back to him. It actually helps us both. If we play someone who talks trash, it’s nothing because I’ve already been through it all from KK.”
Aside from keeping the Gryphons passing attack afloat, Edwards took on another crucial role this season. He is the team’s holder for place-kicker Chase Miller. The Gryphons know as well as any team how important the kicking game is, and coach Jason Battle wanted there to be no issues transferring the ball from the center, to the holder, to Miller’s right foot.
Battle figured Edwards would fit the role just right because of his ability to catch a ball. So Battle snapped balls to him throughout the spring and summer, and the decision has proved to be a smart on.
“The first game I was a little nervous, but I got used to it,” Edwards said. “As long as the ball is in front of me, I’ll be able to get it down. If the center keeps it in front of me I’ll be good.”
His hands were crucial in the waning moments of the triple overtime win over Havelock. Miller’s extra point was a wobble away from being unseccusful.
“The kick against the Havelock, I just had it like this,” said Edwards, holding out his palm as if he were measuring the height of something small. “I try to get it on the finger and point the laces away, but on this one the snap rolled a bit and I just smashed my palm on it to get it still.”
The hold was good enough, and the kick was good, sending the Gryphons to the state title game where Edwards will got back to being a one-man decoy until the ball sails his way. When that happens, good luck catching him.
By PATRICK MASON
Sports Writer for Rocky Mount Telegram
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Processing your request, Please wait....
