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The star and the sub: Wayne’s QB duo is unique

Coach: Having Miller and backup Harrison on field at the same time makes sense.

Wayne freshman Javon Harrison (left) and junior Braxton Miller are sometimes on the field at the same time.  The Warriors are experimenting with unique plays this season involving both quarterbacks.

Staff photo by Jim Noelker Wayne freshman Javon Harrison (left) and junior Braxton Miller are sometimes on the field at the same time.  The Warriors are experimenting with unique plays this season involving both quarterbacks.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 4:31 AM Friday, October 23, 2009

HUBER HEIGHTS — Braxton Miller was driving the cart. Javon Harrison was laughing in the back.

Miller, Wayne High School’s junior quarterback, was at the wheel of the motorized get-around vehicle at the Warriors’ Heidkamp Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 21, transporting Harrison, the freshman backup, in the rear.

They were waiting to discuss their unique relationship.

“As you can see,” Wayne coach Jay Minton said, “they get along great.”

And they both have become necessary parts of the Wayne offense. Since Miller returned from a thigh bruise injury that caused Harrison to play two full games as a substitute, Wayne has dabbled in using both at the same time, with Harrison under center and Miller using his significant athletic abilities elsewhere.

The experiment has worked. Wayne has won two straight with both Miller and Harrison on the field and enters the Dayton Daily News Game of the Week against visiting Centerville controlling its own playoff destiny.

Miller is still the unquestioned starter, Minton said, but the poise Harrison displayed has given the Wayne coaches an extra option if they need a unique play or formation (which they have).

The statistics haven’t been impressive: the  pair have combined to complete just 42 percent of passes for an average of 110.5 yards and have thrown 12 interceptions. But Wayne coaches consider them essential to their hopes of winning their final two games and advancing to the postseason.

“Your goal is to have your best 11 on the field,” Minton said. “Javon’s showing he can make some plays, passing or tucking it and running it, and we know Braxton can make plays, so why wouldn’t you sometimes have them both on the field?”

The starter  and the backup

Miller, who has collected interest from many of the nation’s college powers (including Ohio State) as one of Ohio’s most notable recruits, has been injured before, and it caused Wayne to scramble.

Last season, Miller broke his leg in a Week 6 loss to Fairmont. In the next six games, including two playoff contests, Wayne used four different quarterbacks: former starter Ryan Bitsko, current defensive back Tre Moore, current running back Tony Peters and Shawn Whitehurst.

Miller returned this season and led Wayne to a 3-1 start before suffering the thigh bruise. Harrison provided the Warriors an option they lacked last season: A clear and capable backup.

He had seen the field already, but only as the punter.

“I was a little nervous to get hit for the first time on varsity,” Harrison said. “The first play I gave it to Anthone (Taylor), and I saw the end not playing very honest. The next play I took it for about 20 yards, and it felt good.”

In Harrison’s two games as the starter, Wayne lost 14-12 to Troy and 27-14 to Northmont. But he did enough to inspire confidence from coaches.

“He seems to have a real calming effect on everyone around him,” Minton said.

The mentor  and the freshman

Miller returned in Week 7 against Fairmont, but not immediately at quarterback. On his first play, Miller lined up at receiver, and Harrison chucked the ball to him down the right sideline, although it fell out of bounds. Miller finished the game under center, leading Wayne to a 21-14 win.

Last week, Wayne needed some changes again. Sputtering on offense, the Warriors inserted Harrison at QB with Miller at receiver, and they drove to the winning score (a 1-yard Miller run) with 3:38 left in a 9-5 defeat of Beavercreek.

The experiment seems to be working in victories.

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Miller said of the change to Harrison last week. “We worked on it all week, and I’ll do anything to help the team. If they tell me to go out and block and hit people, that’s what I’ll do.”

And he certainly can, Minton said.

“The neat thing about Braxton is you could ask him to play offensive guard, and he would do it with an attitude,” Minton said. “(Last week), he threw a pass, and it went right off the receiver’s hands, deflected, and it was an interception. You talk about an attitude, he came up running and, boom, he just annihilated the poor guy, a picture-perfect tackle. You can’t teach it any better than that.”

Miller, though, has accepted the role as teacher, mentoring the younger Harrison since the earliest days of summer practice, Minton said. With Harrison proving he is poised in game situations, Wayne coaches feel they can use Miller’s considerable natural ability elsewhere.

Now if he could only get that first catch.

“The guy over here needs to help me,” Miller said, pointing to Harrison outside the Wayne locker room.

“Hopefully this game,” Harrison said. “I would hope it’s a touchdown.”

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-7389 or knagel @DaytonDailyNews.com.