“It was pretty much the same [mind-set] like every play, every down,” Morton said. “I wanted the ball, and I never quit with it. I kept fighting for those extra yards every time I could get them.”
Morton has provided most of Whitman’s offensive highlights this season. While the Vikings (4-5) have scored one touchdown or fewer five times this season, the running back’s production has been steady. He has 1,262 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns, averaging about 25 touches per game.
Kuhn has individual stats for Whitman dating back about 20 years, and Morton already has the highest single-season rushing total during that span with one game remaining. The coach also believes Morton broke the school’s single-game record on Friday, topping a 250-yard performance by Rob Nykuli against Bethesda-Chevy Chase in 2000.
Morton’s defensive touchdown started the scoring and his two-yard scoring plunge in the second quarter gave the Vikings the lead for good against Walter Johnson (3-6). In addition to his career-high carry total, he also recorded two catches and an interception.
“I didn’t feel like I had 38 carries,” said Morton, who has topped the 100-yard rushing mark six times this season. “It felt like a normal night. I guess I got into a little zone with my teammates. We were focused on moving the ball and scoring touchdowns.”
Early on this season, Whitman turned to Morton out of necessity, and he hasn’t slowed down. The Vikings returned no regular offensive starters from last year’s team with Morton and senior Kevin McGowan, a wide receiver in 2011, the most experienced players.
The pair entered the fall in competition to play quarterback, and McGowan won the starting job. Morton, meanwhile, has been plenty busy, often running out of a power pistol formation behind McGowan that features three tight ends.
“We knew [Morton] was something special,” Kuhn said. “We just didn’t know exactly how we wanted to get him the ball.” . . .
Bethesda-Chevy Chase stayed in contention for its second straight Maryland 4A West playoff berth, holding on for a 28-27 win over Clarksburg. The Barons (6-3) clinched their third straight winning season — the first time the team has done that since 1957-1959.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase led by 21 points when senior Marquel Lee broke free on a 67-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, but Clarksburg (2-7) forced a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers and stormed back. The Coyotes pulled within one on sophomore quarterback Joey Nacci’s touchdown run with about two minutes left.
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