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FLOWERY BRANCH — Flowery Branch’s offense puts up numbers on the ground that would earn the respect of an old school wing-T coach. The Falcons (11-2) have two bruising running backs and a shifty junior quarterback, Connor Shaw, that is adept at tucking it in and running with the football.
Flowery Branch showed last Friday in the Class AAA state quarterfinals against Baldwin that it could score touchdowns in a hurry by keeping the ball on the ground, but this isn’t your traditional two-back set that tries to win games with a 3-yards-in-a-cloud-of-dust mentality.
This is the Falcons’ version of a multiple spread option, which is predicated on the passing game, often with as many as four wide receivers on the field at a time.
"Everyone knows that we’re based on the spread, but we’ve really become more balanced," Falcons senior running back Daniel Drummond said. "I think it’s good because we can take pressure off of Connor."
Flowery Branch coach Lee Shaw might not have known even this time last year that his ‘Air Raid’ offense would take on such a heavy flavor of the running game. But he had to see the pieces fall into place quickly.
Drummond, a 245-pound Georgia Tech verbal commitment, transferred to Flowery Branch midway through his junior year from West Hall. His presence was felt early and often, including a school record of 245 rushing yards against his former school. He leads the running backs with 818 yards and 10 TDs this year.
"Right away I was impressed with his work ethic and intensity," Flowery Branch’s coach said.
"Daniel really creates a spark with our offense," Connor Shaw said. "When we can establish the running game, it really helps our passing attack."
The Flowery Branch running game has surpassed most expectations with 2,644 yards combined among the top four rushers: Drummond, Imani Cross, Shaw (920 yards, 10 TDs) and Rod Frazier.
Drummond — who is rated No. 15 among the nation’s fullbacks by Rivals.com — is clearly the leader of this group with his combination of size and speed. He turned the tide of Flowery Branch’s state quarterfinal game with 90 yards and three touchdowns to send the Falcons into tonight’s state semifinal against LaGrange.
"He’s not just a powerful back, but he’s also explosive," Lee Shaw added.
But a shoulder separation against East Hall left Flowery Branch playing its final three regular season games without Drummond’s presence in the running game. That’s when Cross took the torch.
"When I got hurt, I told him that the team’s depending on you," Drummond said. "He’s just continued to get better and better."
Cross slowly assimilated to the offense in a limited role before seeing the starting duty against East Hall. He says learning from Drummond’s advice has helped make the transition easier.
"When Daniel got hurt, he told me to go in and play hard," Cross added. "It means a lot to me to be able to contribute to this offense."
Cross spent the final three games of the regular season against East Hall, West Forsyth and Gainesville as the primary running back. He’s risen to the challenge by averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season.
"We brought Imani along slowly," Lee Shaw said. "And he just clicked."
Lee Shaw adds that much of the yardage that the running backs gain is a direct result of the consistency of the offensive line: center Austin Todd, right guard Ben Clark, right tackle Bucky Free, left guard Brandon Keller, and left tackle Jared Crandell, who converted to the offensive line from linebacker.
"Our offensive line are the hardest workers out here," Drummond said.
Flowery Branch’s coach said moving back to the running game has been a slow transition over the past couple of years. In 2006, Shaw said that the Falcons offense was essentially an all-passing attack, as then-quarterback Jaybo Shaw went on to earn Times Area Football Player of the Year honors. Last season, Flowery Branch started to sprinkle in the running game more with the work of Darius Kimbrough.
Don’t get the wrong idea. Flowery Branch still passes the football. Connor Shaw has put up 1,930 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air this season.
But don’t expect the Falcons to abandon their success running the football any time soon.
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