3afan
11-14-2003, 08:03 AM
Opponents beware: Don't get Forney's Laury going
Senior running back at his best when spurred on by other teams, fans
07:43 PM CST on Thursday, November 13, 2003
By KYLE NAGEL / The Dallas Morning News
Forney's Baylen Laury has been a target for opposing defenses all year. And, sometimes, their fans.
"Crandall fans had a banner that said, 'Bruise Mista B,' " said Laury, a running back. "Ferris put their flag in our end zone. Wilmer-Hutchins pointed at me during warmups.
"But that doesn't bother me. It just gets my blood pumping."
The opponents have suffered the consequences. Laury ran for 176 yards against Crandall, 97 against Ferris and 267 against Wilmer-Hutchins. And he's just now peaking.
Laury, a 5-9, 165-pound senior, picked the Forney running game up where former star DaBryan Blanton left it and, with Colorado State-committed quarterback Caleb Hanie, has carried the Jackrabbits to a 9-1 record and a No. 5 state ranking. Forney plays a Class 3A Region II, bi-district playoff game at 7 p.m. Friday against Wills Point.
Blanton, who carried 200 times for 2,355 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2001, left for Oklahoma and handed the rushing duties to Laury and Clint Crabtree last season. Laury, who spent his sophomore season recovering from a scoped right knee, heard negative murmurs about Blanton's absence.
"Everybody was talking about how we wouldn't be any good without him," Laury said.
By midseason, Laury was Forney's main back. He recovered from the knee surgery, which he had during the spring of his freshman year, and regained his 4.5 speed.
He finished the 2002 season with 1,763 yards and was named the District 13-3A MVP. Forney advanced to the state semifinals after Laury had two interceptions and 188 rushing yards against Atlanta in a quarterfinal victory.
After last season's success, Laury became the main focus for opponents. It hasn't changed much. Laury is third in Class 3A rushing with 1,584 yards, including 677 in the last three games.
"Last week he played three quarters, and that's about as deep as he has gone all season," Forney coach Kevin Rush said. "He's only played a half-game for most of the season. We don't believe in running up the score, so his stats had to sacrifice a little bit."
Rush said Laury's strength is his vision. He sees holes and cuts quickly. And he's been waiting to play Wills Point all season.
Last spring, while playing a 7-on-7 game, Wills Point and Forney players got into a heated verbal argument. Laury said it came close to becoming physical.
"This is a rivalry game now," Laury said. "There are emotions involved."
When emotions are involved, Laury's blood starts pumping. That's been trouble for opponents in the past.
E-mail knagel@dallasnews.com
COMING ON STRONG
Forney senior Baylen Laury's game-by-game rushing totals this season:
Date Opponent Yards
Aug. 29 Aledo 114
Sept. 5 Mesquite Horn 110
Sept. 12 Mabank 216
Sept. 19 Commerce 76
Sept. 26 Crandall 176
Oct. 9 Pinkston 118
Oct. 17 Ferris 97
Oct. 23 Madison 176
Oct. 31 Kaufman 234
Nov. 7 Wilmer-Hutchins 267
Wills Point (7-3) at Forney (9-1), Class 3A Region II, bi-district playoff, 7 p.m. Friday, City Bank Stadium, Forney
DMN Link (http://http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/sports/highschoolfootball/stories/111403dnspofbwhsforney.8d18c.html)
<small>[ November 14, 2003, 07:10 AM: Message edited by: 3afan ]</small>
Senior running back at his best when spurred on by other teams, fans
07:43 PM CST on Thursday, November 13, 2003
By KYLE NAGEL / The Dallas Morning News
Forney's Baylen Laury has been a target for opposing defenses all year. And, sometimes, their fans.
"Crandall fans had a banner that said, 'Bruise Mista B,' " said Laury, a running back. "Ferris put their flag in our end zone. Wilmer-Hutchins pointed at me during warmups.
"But that doesn't bother me. It just gets my blood pumping."
The opponents have suffered the consequences. Laury ran for 176 yards against Crandall, 97 against Ferris and 267 against Wilmer-Hutchins. And he's just now peaking.
Laury, a 5-9, 165-pound senior, picked the Forney running game up where former star DaBryan Blanton left it and, with Colorado State-committed quarterback Caleb Hanie, has carried the Jackrabbits to a 9-1 record and a No. 5 state ranking. Forney plays a Class 3A Region II, bi-district playoff game at 7 p.m. Friday against Wills Point.
Blanton, who carried 200 times for 2,355 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2001, left for Oklahoma and handed the rushing duties to Laury and Clint Crabtree last season. Laury, who spent his sophomore season recovering from a scoped right knee, heard negative murmurs about Blanton's absence.
"Everybody was talking about how we wouldn't be any good without him," Laury said.
By midseason, Laury was Forney's main back. He recovered from the knee surgery, which he had during the spring of his freshman year, and regained his 4.5 speed.
He finished the 2002 season with 1,763 yards and was named the District 13-3A MVP. Forney advanced to the state semifinals after Laury had two interceptions and 188 rushing yards against Atlanta in a quarterfinal victory.
After last season's success, Laury became the main focus for opponents. It hasn't changed much. Laury is third in Class 3A rushing with 1,584 yards, including 677 in the last three games.
"Last week he played three quarters, and that's about as deep as he has gone all season," Forney coach Kevin Rush said. "He's only played a half-game for most of the season. We don't believe in running up the score, so his stats had to sacrifice a little bit."
Rush said Laury's strength is his vision. He sees holes and cuts quickly. And he's been waiting to play Wills Point all season.
Last spring, while playing a 7-on-7 game, Wills Point and Forney players got into a heated verbal argument. Laury said it came close to becoming physical.
"This is a rivalry game now," Laury said. "There are emotions involved."
When emotions are involved, Laury's blood starts pumping. That's been trouble for opponents in the past.
E-mail knagel@dallasnews.com
COMING ON STRONG
Forney senior Baylen Laury's game-by-game rushing totals this season:
Date Opponent Yards
Aug. 29 Aledo 114
Sept. 5 Mesquite Horn 110
Sept. 12 Mabank 216
Sept. 19 Commerce 76
Sept. 26 Crandall 176
Oct. 9 Pinkston 118
Oct. 17 Ferris 97
Oct. 23 Madison 176
Oct. 31 Kaufman 234
Nov. 7 Wilmer-Hutchins 267
Wills Point (7-3) at Forney (9-1), Class 3A Region II, bi-district playoff, 7 p.m. Friday, City Bank Stadium, Forney
DMN Link (http://http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/sports/highschoolfootball/stories/111403dnspofbwhsforney.8d18c.html)
<small>[ November 14, 2003, 07:10 AM: Message edited by: 3afan ]</small>