B.J. Evans: A Rebel with a cause
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
By RICH STEVENS - Charleston Daily Mail

Tolsia Coach Larry Waller doesn't mind being the new kid on the block when it comes to the Super Six high school football championships in Wheeling.

So what if folks don't know a lot about the ninth-year coach of the Rebels, who has been on the school faculty since the 1987 consolidation of Fort Gay and Crum high schools?

What's important is fans do know plenty about Waller's best player -- the versatile B.J. Evans.

They will be at Wheeling Island Stadium when the No. 4 Rebels (11-2) face Wayne County rival and third-rated Wayne High (11-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday for the Class AA state title.

"We went (to Parkersburg) for the (coaches') meeting Sunday and didn't know how things would go," said Waller, whose Rebels have made the playoffs four of the last five years but never have played for a state title. "We probably wouldn't have picked Wayne if we could pick a team to play."

The Rebels own a 30-19 regular-season victory over the Pioneers, who have been to the Class AA state title game twice since 2000, losing to Bridgeport (2000) and Bluefield (2004).

Evans, who cuts an intimidating Class AA figure at 6-feet-3 and 210 pounds, would like to make that three state title losses for Wayne.

But, unlike his head coach, Evans is glad Wayne is the opponent. And it has nothing to do with him running for a school-record 360 yards in their first meeting.

"It's great for the communities and it's great for Wayne County," said Evans, who plays running back, defensive back, returns kicks and punts and is Tolsia's place-kicker. "We have fun playing each other. This will probably be one of the best games in the state championships."

Evans has been mentioned throughout the season as a candidate for the Kennedy Award that goes to the state's top high school player. While a Class AA player hasn't won the award outright since Magnolia's Mark Cisar in 1993, last year's first-team All-State place-kicker has worthy numbers.

Evans has rushed for 2,664 yards on 391 carries in 13 games, an average of more than 30 attempts per game. He has thrown 12 passes and scored 31 rushing touchdowns.

Seldom does he cross the white line that separates the Tolsia bench from the playing field.

"I don't get breathers," Evans said. "I play everything there is, but when I get tired my second wind kicks in automatically.

"Coach does a good job of keeping us conditioned."

Evans even kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:46 left that lifted Tolsia over Bluefield 15-14 in the quarterfinals. In three playoff games, he has rushed for 553 yards on 93 carries.

Despite his 6-3 height, Evans has the ability to rumble over opponents by still getting low enough to avoid the shots to his legs.

"He stays low and makes great cuts, that's why he's such a good back," Waller said. "After the small safeties come up and hit him a couple times, they don't really like to hit much more. After a while, they don't want the contact."

The Pioneers don't mind the contact, however, and they should be healthier this time.

Leading rusher Travis Thompson has been injured most of the season and has played sparingly. When he has played, Thompson has averaged more than 100 yards per game during the regular season in only 134 carries.

"He's a gritty runner who's there in the big games," Wayne Coach Tommy Harmon said.

Wayne, which is making its eighth consecutive playoff appearance, is 14-7 in the postseason during that span.