COLLEGE FOOTBALL: E&H defensive back ready for challenge

EMORY, Va. – It’s not easy being an undersized cornerback in a pass-happy conference full of tall receivers, but Emory & Henry senior Tyler Brown has managed just fine.

As a starter the past two seasons, Brown has relied upon quickness and intelligence to compensate for his lack of height.

“I tell people that I’m 5-foot-10, but I’m actually 5-9,” Brown said. “I can’t make up for my size. That’s just what God gave me, but I can work hard in practice and prepare by watching film.”

Brown admitted that some offensive coordinators have tried to take exploit the height disparity. For example, Hampden-Sydney had an entire cast of receivers in the 6-2 range.

Last week’s 13-10 victory over Catholic offered an example of Brown’s tenacity. With Catholic driving for a potential game-winning touchdown in the final minute, Brown shook off taller receivers and
bigger blockers to make two consecutive plays that preserved the E&H win.

“It was a long drive to Catholic, but we were happy to see a lot of our fans up there,” said Brown, referring to the surreal game-day setting of Washington, D.C. “We got the win, and then saw the White House and a lot of monuments on the way out of town.”

Today at Fred Selfe Stadium, Brown and the other E&H seniors play their final home game against ODAC foe Washington & Lee.  Kickoff is 1 p.m.

“It’s kind of a bittersweet feeling,” Brown said. “It’s going to be emotional playing here for the final time, but I’m ready. I love the guys in our senior class and we all want to go out the right way – as winners.

While Brown was unable to secure an ODAC championship, the Chesterfield, Va. has no regrets about his college football career path. After serving as an understudy with the E&H scout team as a freshman, Brown earned duty in passing situations as a sophomore and then found his niche in the E&H secondary last year.

“I may not have an [ODAC championship) ring, but the past four years have been an incredible experience,” Brown said. “We started off this season strong, then just didn’t play up to our capabilities during the middle of the season.
“We’ve had so many close games. Sometimes things just don’t work out the way you hoped, but that doesn’t mean that you didn’t try hard.”

Washington & Lee (3-6, 2-3) is coming off a 35-34 overtime loss to Bridgewater. W&L missed a potential game-winning 24-yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation.
The Generals rely on an option-oriented offense directed by versatile sophomore quarterback Charlie Westfal (1,015 career rushing yards) and the sophomore running back tandem of Jonathan Clemo and
Harrison Hudson. The Salem High School graduates have combined for 1,370 total yards, or 47 percent of the team’s offensive production.

W&L has defeated Emory & Henry (5-3, 1-3) five of the last seven years, but the Wasps claimed a 17-14 overtime decision last season in Lexington, Va. Over the last four meetings, E&H has averaged just 11 points against the Generals.