Mount Airy is at it again
Had a great interview this morning with Luke Wheeler, a lights-out linebacker and fullback for Mount Airy. He knocked the interview out of the park, and those in my profession love it when that happens. Luke is as smooth answering questions as he is brutal when turning a running back upside down (I have seen this happen, by the way).
On the way back to my car, I ran into Tommy Morrison, an employee of Mount Airy City Schools and the voice of the Granite Bears on WPAQ 740. Tommy not only broadcasts the games, but I am also sure you would be hard pressed to find a bigger fan of the program out there.
We had a good talk about our families — Tommy was excited that he finally had both of his kids in elementary school and was no longer forking over cash every week for day care. But what we mostly talked about was Mount Airy’s 28-21 win at Thomasville last Friday, a game that could carry a lot of significance for the Bears as the season rolls on. As for Thomasville, I bet the loss will likely bring some focus to a young and talented team.
Coach Kelly Holder of Mount Airy can slide some tricks and gadgets into his game plan if need be — he is a master of getting every ounce out of his quarterbacks — but that wasn’t the case last week. Tommy said that the Bears simply plowed between the tackles all night and let Andy Temoney, the Bears shifty running back whose time in the limelight has finally come, do his thing. Temoney had a big night behind a rapidly improving, and brand new, offensive line. And the Bears are 2-0 with 18 straight wins. Could this be another state championship season?
Wheeler is probably never going to be a college linebacker. He’s just not big enough at 5-10, 185 pounds. But he is already mentally preparing himself for a move to safety next fall, when he HAS to be playing for some college program at some level. Luke Wheeler can play. I’ve never seen a high-school team he wouldn’t play for, and be a standout.
And a bit of his story will be in the newspaper tomorrow.