He heard the whispers before they even started. It was a natural reaction he saw coming from a mile away. Playing running back at Westfield is a high-profile gig anyway. But replacing a legend? That adds an element all its own.
Junior running back Steven Tabot put aside thoughts of taking over the position held the last three years by Evan Royster, the Penn State freshman who graduated last spring as the third-leading rusher in Virginia Group AAA state history. Running backs don’t come more high-profile than that.
“ButI wasn’t worried or feeling too much pressure just because I know I can’t fill the shoes of Evan Royster by myself,” Tabot said. “I can only play my own role. That’s what I’m doing right now.”
And he’s doing it well. Tabot doesn’t look imposing at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds. But he is powerfully built and has speed to burn, as Westfield’s first two opponents, Hayfield and Annandale, quickly found out. Tabot has scored four of the Bulldogs’ 10 touchdowns after two games. About the only thing Tabot lacked was experience since he spent his youth playing travel soccer, not absorbing hits from linebackers. His first football game was just two years ago. But he has helped Westfield to a 2-0 start after back-to-back 34-7 wins. The Bulldogs are also young. There are a combined 86 sophomores and juniors listed on the varsity roster and just 19 seniors. It is a group with something to prove.
“The first time I scored against Hayfield I felt all the butterflies I had just fly away,” said Tabot. “They were definitely there at first. But not anymore. I think we all want to show Westfield is better than people think. We lost a lot of great players, but our program is still here.”
Running man
» Former Westfield running back Evan Royster (Penn State) finished his career with 6,384 yards and 90 TDs and helped the Bulldogs to a Virginia Group AAA Division 6 state title in 2003.
» Junior running back Steven Tabot has already totaled 260 rushing yards on 35 carries and four TDs for the Bulldogs this season. He also has two receptions for 26 yards.
» Tabot did not practice until Thursday of this week after coming down with bronchitis following the 34-7 win over Annandale. He is likely to play tonight against W.T. Woodson.
