QB Morrow on target for Pointers

Van Buren’s Christian Morrow is having a senior season to remember, and so are the rest of the Pointers. Morrow has thrown some touchdown passes, run for some and even caught some. More importantly, though, the senior quarterback is leading his Pointers into the post-season for the first time since 2011. “It’s a great feeling,” Morrow said. “We’ve got a great group of guys, and it’s awesome to come out and unite and put together what we practice and practice.” Morrow was thrown into the fire last year at quarterback as a junior when Caleb Salisbury was hurt early. That experience, though, proved valuable when new head coach Casey Dick took over and especially for new offensive coordinator Crosby Tuck. “That was one of the things we talked about right out of the gate is how nice it is to have Christian here,” Tuck said. “He’s a versatile player, who throws the ball really well and runs good routes. We’ve used him at receiver a lot.” Morrow has thrown for 1,388 yards and eight touchdowns, but he’s also caught seven passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. “He’s made some big touchdown catches for us,” Tuck said. “He made one last week against Springdale. We needed a big play, and we put him out there in a man-to-man matchup. The main thing is having a guy with the speed he has and can throw the ball like he does, that helped right out of the gate.” Those touchdown receptions have come from sophomore Gary Phillips, who has teamed up with Morrow for a 1-2 punch not only at quarterback but at receiver. The two are usually on the field at the same time. “We’ve been able to run somewhat of a two-quarterback system especially as Gary has matured throughout the season,” Tuck said. “We did a little bit early, but with Gary being a sophomore it took a little developing. With him and how he’s playing now and from the mid-season on, we’ve really used both of them. I think it’s kept some people to some degree off with how we’ve been able to personnel certain groupings. We’re able to get both of them on the field at the same time and you don’t know which one is going to be at which spot. It’s been nice having those two guys. We’re going to miss Christian a lot next year.” Morrow, who is also a track sprinter, has loved being able to provide an offensive spark at receiver with Phillips at quarterback. “He connects with me,” Morrow said. “He throws a good ball. I can go out and use different abilities and traits.” In the season-opening win at Alma, Morrow threw a touchdown pass, caught a touchdown pass and ran for a score. While Morrow has run for 325 yards and four touchdowns this season, Tuck has seen the most improvement in one particular area as a quarterback. “Stepping up in the pocket,” Tuck said. “You see it a lot with quarterbacks that are fast like that. They get a little bit of pressure and they want to get outside the pocket. They have some speed and they can do it. With him, he throws the ball so well in the pocket. We’ve worked hard to trying to get him to trust the pocket and step up in the pocket, and still keep his eyes down the field. He can make the read and deliver an accurate football. He does that so well. When he throws from within the pocket, his accuracy is excellent.” Morrow has also benefited from Dick bringing in a wide-open offense and the popular run-pass option. “Our sophomore and junior years we ran different offenses,” Morrow said. “He brought in RPO, intensity and a fast pace. We’re throwing passes more than the run, and I like that.” That’s so much different from when Morrow’s dad, Ron, played receiver in the days of the Wishbone at Van Buren. “He’s taught me just go out and leave it all out there,” Morrow said. “He played receiver. He’s taught me some receiving stuff.” The young Morrow knew his dad played receiver, but he didn’t know that as a junior, his dad threw a 48-yard touchdown pass on a trick play on fourth down to Kyle Snead with 21 seconds left against Northside. “Did he really?” Morrow said. “He didn’t tell me that. That’s awesome.” Then in his senior season, his dad caught an 86-yard touchdown pass from Adam Funmaker in a double-overtime loss to Bentonville for one of the longest plays from scrimmage in Van Buren history. Also, that season Van Buren beat Northside in the 7A-West opener. Friday night, the Pointers open the Class 7A playoffs against Northside so the younger Morrow has a chance to maybe one-up his dad. “I do,” Christian said. “What a coincidence.”

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Van Buren High School Athletics

QB MORROW ON TARGET FOR POINTERS

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 11/8/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford