You can cover one of them. Maybe even two on a good night. But now it’s three pass catchers St. Anne’s-Belfield’s opponents have to account for?
“When the safeties start rolling up on me and Jalen (Harrison) it’s a perfect time to throw to (tight end) Campbell (Miller),” said Saints junior Kareem Johnson. “It helps us a lot because then they have to start worrying about him.”
STAB unleashed an aerial assault against Norfolk Academy Friday afternoon to the tune of a 49-12 victory over the Bulldogs. Johnson, Jalen Harrison and Campbell Miller all proved to be dangerous big play threats in the passing game with Lee Parkhill pulling the trigger behind center.
“It’s funny because the guys we have coming back, they just have something going on,” said STAB coach John Blake. “And it happens all week, we see it all week in practice. Hopefully we can just continue that.”
Harrison was the first to get in on the act with a 31-yard catch down the sideline that gave the offense a little bit of a rhythm. Then a 22-yard sprint by Brodie Phillips to the end zone in the opening seconds of the second quarter put STAB up 7-0. On the next STAB possession, Johnson then hauled in a 38-yard catch on the next STAB possession that set the stage for a pinpoint touchdown pass from Parkhill to Miller from 28 yards and put STAB ahead 14-0. Miller hauled in the pass in stride and coasted into the end zone.
The Saints’ passing attack snuck in one more before the half with the Parkhill to Johnson connection going for 40 yards and a score with 2:05 left in the second half. Parkhill piled up 272 yards and four touchdowns on just 9-for-14 passing, with Johnson hauling in five of those catches for 168 yards and two scores.
It’s clear that the Saints’ receivers — including Miller at tight end — benefited greatly from playing together last year and the grouping seems poised for a strong 2014. The chemistry between the pass catchers and their quarterback is unmistakable.
“A lot of it’s chemistry and me being able to rely on the guys and know that they’re going to be able to make the plays that they did,” Parkhill said. “(Also) my offensive line played great tonight, they gave me plenty of time and a nice pocket to throw in. It’s stuff like that that allows me to do my job and do it well.”
The Saints kept the pedal down for much of the second half. After surrendering a touchdown midway through the third quarter, STAB got back in gear when Parkhill hit Johnson for a 60-yard touchdown and then found Miller again on a jump ball in the end zone.
“It’s just us trying to work to get open and just keeping working hard,” Johnson said. “And then the defense played perfect today.”
The Saints defense clamped down in critical situations against a seasoned Norfolk Academy offense led by incumbent starting quarterback Allan Parrott and a deep receiving corps. The Saints came up with a couple of big fourth down stops.
“Norfolk Academy is pretty quick, they definitely have some speed,” Parkhill said. “Our speed on defense is what’s going to kill, that’s what we have. Our ability to fly around the field is really what’s helping us out right now.”
STAB will try and keep the rhythm going next Friday when the Saints host Christchurch with a chance to move to 2-0 for the first time since 2010.
