Farrow Brings Guidance and Stability to the Braves
"I've been coaching for over 27 years and he just reminds me of some of the greatest players that I've ever coached."
Any guesses as to whom Indian River head football coach Elisha "Cadillac" Harris is elevating into such lofty company?
The answer may be surprising as it is a young man who has flown relatively low on the radar of local high school stand-out athletes, but is already putting up numbers this season that rank near the top in the region.
The answer is a young man that makes up for any lack of physical size with heart and leadership.
The answer is Willie Farrow.
"Off the field, I'm kind of laid back. I don't talk much, I'm kind of quiet," the 17 year-old senior says. "But on the field, I'm just talking the whole game. As soon as I put my equipment on, I'm constantly talking."
Fortunately for Coach Harris and the Braves, Farrow has the walk to back up the talk as he is a classic, throw-back kind of player. He excels on both sides of the ball, as a wide receiver on offense and as a defensive back on defense. "He's so quick," Harris says, "He has such cat like movements on both sides of the ball that he gets to places and can change directions on a dime."
That talent has helped Farrow get off to the best start of his high school career this season. In just the first few games at the receiver position, he was in the double digits in receptions with well over 200 yards and a touchdown.
And not just any touchdown, but maybe the touchdown of the season.
In Indian River's 2006 regular season opener, Farrow caught a 41-yard TD pass to put the Braves up for good in a 31-28 upset over the Hampton Crabbers (a team that is the defending state champion coming into the season). It was the first time Hampton was beaten by a South Hampton Roads team since the 1994 team and Farrow was excited to be a part of it. "It was an adrenaline rush," he says.
Farrow doesn't plan on letting the rush stop with just one catch though. When talking about Farrow's abilities as a receiver, Coach Harris paints a bleak picture for opposing defensive backs that have to guard the 5'9", 170 lbs. Farrow this season. "As a defensive back [guarding him], he makes you hesitate, and if you hesitate he'll go by you," Harris says. "He can get to wherever he wants to on the field."
Beyond his individual efforts, Farrow brings guidance and stability as one of the team captains for a Braves team that feels like it can compete in a very tough Southeastern District. "[Willie's] been in the system for three years and understands where everybody fits back in the secondary and is one of the top receivers on our team," Coach Harris says. "He knows everybody's route as well as his own and has the ability to read the defense as he's running his route."
The senior credits his coach for his continued development and progress, "He motivates me to be better," he says of Harris, "He constantly tells me that I'm a leader and a captain and I [have] to play like it."
Farrow was an All-District team Honorable Mention in his junior year, but that won't be good enough for him as he has set his goals high for 2006. "1st Team Southeastern District and 1st Team All-Tidewater," he says in a matter of fact tone.
His coach believes that Farrow is well on his way to those accomplishments. "He brings experience and leadership and a whole lot of talent," Harris says, "He just has those things, skill, talent, and a desire to be good."
