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QB injuries take toll on Wayne

Braxton Miller misses game with ankle sprain, then backup Javon Harrison lost to shoulder injury.

Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller, sidelined with a high ankle sprain, watches Sunday's game from the sideline. The (Canton) Repository photo by Bob Rossiter

BOB ROSSITER Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller, sidelined with a high ankle sprain, watches Sunday's game from the sideline. The (Canton) Repository photo by Bob Rossiter

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By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer 11:06 PM Sunday, September 5, 2010

COLUMBUS — This wasn’t what Wayne High School had in mind to start the high school football season.

First, highly touted senior quarterback Braxton Miller was held out of the nationally televised game against Canton McKinley in the Kirk Herbstreit Classic on Sunday, Sept. 5, with a high ankle sprain that he suffered in the previous week’s loss to Moeller.

Then, backup sophomore QB Javon Harrison lasted all of midway through the first quarter vs. McKinley before exiting with a separated right (throwing) shoulder.

That meant the Warriors were reduced to freshman Dorian Hendrix at the controls of the offense. He — and Wayne — had no chance.

A 26-0 loss to the Bulldogs leaves the Warriors at 0-2, wondering what might have been and who will be under center in Week 3.

“I’m just blessed that I’ll be able to play on this (Ohio Stadium) field with my (Ohio State University) teammates,” said Miller, the Buckeyes’ prize recruit for the class of 2011.

“Two good quarterbacks going down, geez. You’ve just got to deal with it and overcome it.”

Miller hopes to return to practice this week and be ready for the Warriors’ home opener Friday against Seneca (Ky.). It’s doubtful that Harrison will be ready anytime soon. Ironically, it was Harrison who the Warriors turned to several times last season and this game when Miller went down with injuries.

Now, Hendrix is the likely backup — or starter — following a hands-on crash course in varsity football that played out on ESPNU. Wayne coaches are high on both Harrison and Hendrix as the Warriors’ QBs in waiting. They just didn’t think now would be that time.

“I know sometimes it sounds like excuses, but that’s got to be demoralizing to any team,” Wayne coach Jay Minton said.

“How many reps do third-string quarterbacks get throughout the week? Not very many.”

It can only get better for Wayne. The offense produced just four first downs, 6 yards rushing and 88 total yards against McKinley (2-0). If that doesn’t sound gloomy enough, Wayne hasn’t scored in six quarters after putting 28 points on Moeller in the first half.

“This is tough to swallow,” Harrison said. “I guess we’re kind of cursed with quarterbacks getting hurt.”

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