The Gretna Hawks have won ten or more games in an astounding eight straight seasons. Their hopes of making that nine in a row will be carried by senior quarterback Tony Miller.
"I've been playing football since I was seven. I just love it," said Miller.
"We just decided to put our best athlete at quarterback, which we've done in the past. Snap him the ball and let him run. He's getting better throwing, so he's had a good adaptation to it," said Kevin Saunders, head coach for Gretna.
The offense runs on Miller's ability to pound the rock, with some timely passes thrown in there as well. Last week in a 47-7 win over Tunstall, number 8 put up 205 yards rushing and found the endzone four times. He passed for 50 yards, adding two more scores through the air. "That adrenaline that you get once you step out on the field. The fans are chanting for you and stuff. It feels really good."
T-Mills, as his friends call him, is known to opponents as one tough man to tackle once he gets a head of steam. And it doesn't hurt to run behind some of the best trench guys in the area.
"We got a really good offensive line. We've got a couple really good all-state guys up front," said Saunders.
"Best linemen in the state. All I have to do is run behind them, touchdown," said Miller.
With those guys clearing the way, Miller is able to get his 6-1, 210 pound frame to the second level.
"Most of the time one-on-one with safeties and corners, I know they can't bring me down," said Miller.
Most schools try to protect their QB and playmaker from going both ways. Not at Gretna, where Miller is a standout linebacker as well. "They're trying to put some pain on me, lay it back on them."
While Tony Miller has yet to receive any college offers, he's hoping for a tailback slot from an FCS school, or maybe somewhere bigger. "I wouldn't mind going to Liberty, but my favorite college is Tech. I would love to go there."
"He's very intelligent in the classroom, has great grades. He's just a really good kid," said Saunders.
In the meantime, the Gretna Hawks hope to ride their horse to another ten win season, and beyond.
"I've been playing football since I was seven. I just love it," said Miller.
"We just decided to put our best athlete at quarterback, which we've done in the past. Snap him the ball and let him run. He's getting better throwing, so he's had a good adaptation to it," said Kevin Saunders, head coach for Gretna.
The offense runs on Miller's ability to pound the rock, with some timely passes thrown in there as well. Last week in a 47-7 win over Tunstall, number 8 put up 205 yards rushing and found the endzone four times. He passed for 50 yards, adding two more scores through the air. "That adrenaline that you get once you step out on the field. The fans are chanting for you and stuff. It feels really good."
T-Mills, as his friends call him, is known to opponents as one tough man to tackle once he gets a head of steam. And it doesn't hurt to run behind some of the best trench guys in the area.
"We got a really good offensive line. We've got a couple really good all-state guys up front," said Saunders.
"Best linemen in the state. All I have to do is run behind them, touchdown," said Miller.
With those guys clearing the way, Miller is able to get his 6-1, 210 pound frame to the second level.
"Most of the time one-on-one with safeties and corners, I know they can't bring me down," said Miller.
Most schools try to protect their QB and playmaker from going both ways. Not at Gretna, where Miller is a standout linebacker as well. "They're trying to put some pain on me, lay it back on them."
While Tony Miller has yet to receive any college offers, he's hoping for a tailback slot from an FCS school, or maybe somewhere bigger. "I wouldn't mind going to Liberty, but my favorite college is Tech. I would love to go there."
"He's very intelligent in the classroom, has great grades. He's just a really good kid," said Saunders.
In the meantime, the Gretna Hawks hope to ride their horse to another ten win season, and beyond.
