TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Payne, Weatherford OK With Sharing QB Duties

ADVERTISEMENT

By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - Late in the third quarter last Friday against Wesley Chapel, there was a lone voice that boomed above the others.

'Let's go B.B.!' the voice encouraged Land O' Lakes freshman quarterback Stephen Weatherford as the Gators' offense attempted to mount a scoring drive.

The voice wasn't that of older brother Joe Weatherford, who stood along the home sideline. Nor was it from Bill or Cathy Weatherford, his parents.

It was the starting QB, senior Ely Payne.

In this world of self-absorbed, power-hungry quarterbacks, there has been none of that as Payne and Weatherford share quarterbacking duties this season.

'That just makes you feel good as a coach,' Land O' Lakes coach John Benedetto said. 'We're trying to develop a good relationship between all our players and that's one way to get it done. Your quarterback, your leader helping the younger kid, so that the younger kid can become a better quarterback in the future. I think that's tremendous. That's what the game of football is all about.

'It's not so much about the competition. It's about competition, but at the same time helping each other become better players.'

The two players also have the kind of resources most high school players aren't privy to.

Payne's older brother, Logan, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks in April. The former University of Minnesota receiver is now on the Seahawks' practice squad.

'Over the summer we threw routes almost every day at Johnny Walters,' Ely Payne said. 'Logan talks to me all the time because he knows what I should be doing. He helps with leadership and keeping the team together and stuff like that.'

Stephen Weatherford, the younger brother of college quarterbacks Drew (Florida State) and Joe (Central Florida), is constantly soaking in the knowledge accumulated by his elders.

'Every time Andrew comes home from Florida State, he's always asking me to do my three-step drop or my five-step drop,' Stephen Weatherford said. 'And Joe and everybody make sure that I'm throwing the ball right, make sure I'm looking off the receivers and stuff like that. Everything I've learned is from them basically.'

Last week in the Gators' 34-31 victory against Wesley Chapel, the quarterbacks put up nearly identical numbers. Payne was five of nine for 86 yards, while Weatherford was five of nine for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Although Benedetto isn't thrilled about switching his quarterbacks during games, it likely will happen tonight at Zephyrhills (1-0) and will continue when needed, especially after the performance Payne had while playing safety.

He collected one interception and nearly had four others in his career debut on defense.

'They both have their different qualities about them,' Benedetto said. 'Stephen, right now, doesn't really have the arm to throw the ball as far as we would like on certain plays, but Ely does. Ely can throw the long pass.

'Stevie has remained so calm. He did in the preseason game and he did Friday night against Wesley Chapel he looks like a veteran even though he's an experienced ninth-grader. ... Ely has more generalship about him than Stevie does right now.

'And even though I don't like to use two quarterbacks, for the good of the team I will.'

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT