High School Sports

By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer

Robert E. Lee faced a second and long from its 3-yard line, trailing Longview 7-0 at Lobo Stadium.

An incompletion on first down made it virtual certainty that REL would run the ball on second down. Longview knew it, the crowd knew it and REL didn't hide it, lining up in a tight formation.

Lee quarterback Brandon Rogers took the snap and handed off to 5-8, 150-pound sophomore tailback Da Da Brown. He'd totaled 25 yards on his first five carries, but this one would end up in the record books.

Brown sped toward the line, but then cut to the left and got to the outside. Longview tacklers followed and tried to bring him down, but the Lee tailback spun away and broke through down the open sideline.

He crossed midfield before Longview pursuers caught up to him, forcing Brown to make a few more cuts, break another tackle and spin once more before he reached the end zone 97 yards away.

Brown's 97-yard touchdown set a new school record for the longest run from scrimmage and longest touchdown run.

"That's when people really started knowing my name," said Brown, who finished the season as Lee's leading rusher with 875 yards and four touchdowns.

"(The guys up front) opened it up. It was a trap wham, and they pulled and kicked out perfectly. That is how it supposed to look right there."

Brown was one-half of a thunder and lightning rushing attack last season with Brown providing the speed to complement senior Jamal Mitchell's power.

The duo combined to rush for 1,636 yards and score 16 touchdowns. Mitchell did the majority of the end zone work, being better suited to pound it in on the goal line.

This year, it's all about Brown.

The junior will be joined in the backfield by seniors Chase Wiley and Anthony Johnson, but their role will be mainly as fullbacks. Brown will be carrying the load and with it, Lee's hopes of making it back to the playoffs and challenging for a District 11-5A crown.

Brown has loftier goals he hopes will end with a ceremony at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, adding the year 2008 to the state championship sign that already bears 2004 on it.

"It's a lot of weight on my shoulders, but our line is pretty good and getting better every day. I think we can do it," Brown said. "We are going to take it one game at a time, but our ultimate goal is to win a state championship.

As for personal goals, as in yards and touchdowns, Brown reiterated his first statement.

"My personal goals are to win ... win every game," Brown said. "As long as we win (my stats don't matter)."

ROBERT E. LEE'S running back Da Da Brown will be a big part of the Lee defense in 2008.
(Staff Photo By Chris Vinn)