Brief living like David

RICK DEVEREUX

At 5-foot-2, Morgan Brief sure does live up to his name.

It would be hard to spot the offensive and defensive linemen on

the Sage Hill School football team. The junior gets lost in the

forest of taller players. He is constantly covered up by a mass of

meatier men.

But if you wait until the layers of linemen roll of any pile, the

last one crawling up from the bottom would certainly be No. 56.

“He’s under 80% of the piles on defense,” Coach Tom Monarch said.

“He’s got an ankle or an elbow or something to take down the runner.”

Brief is the first to point out that he sometimes plays against

opponents more than foot taller and more than 100 pounds heavier

(Brief is listed at 170 pounds, but admits to weighing less).

“To me, they are always bigger,” Brief said. “But it’s not the

meat, it’s the motion.”

It seems unfair to have Brief play on the line where the giants

roam and pick their teeth with guys Morgan’s size.

After the first couple of plays, the fans stop cringing in

anticipation of Brief’s demise. They put away the cell phones ready

to call for an ambulance. After the first couple plays, fans realize

Brief is not just staying healthy, or holding his own, or making a

play or two. Fans start to realize Brief is dominating -- yes,

dominating -- his rivals.

“Everyday after practice I think I’m the worst lineman on our team

and in our league,” Brief said. “I have to prove myself to my coaches

on Friday so they will let me go out again the next week and play the

greatest sport in the world.”

The coaches obviously have been impressed. This is the second year

Brief has been named co-captain.

“It’s amazing,” Monarch said. “He has the heart of a lion. It is

his intestinal fortitude that makes him such a great high school

football player.”

No greater complement could be paid to Brief then saying he is a

great high school football player.

“I want people to say I’m a good football player,” he said. “I

don’t want people to say I’m good for someone my size.”

His size could be compensated on defense with superior speed,

slipping past blockers before the elephants take two steps. But the

really impressive feat is when Brief sets up at offensive guard and

pushes defenders out of the way. Speed can only get an offensive

lineman so far. There must be some sort of muscle or he will get

thrown around like a Frisbee on the beach.

“There’s nothing’s harder than playing offensive line in all of

football,” Brief said. “I guess I use my leverage.”

It would be easy to compare it to David and Goliath.

David volunteered to do battle against the mighty Philistine

warrior Goliath when no one else in the Israelite army would face the

mighty soldier.

During his freshman year, the coaches sought a volunteer to take

on senior fullback/linebacker Cliff Swanson in a hitting drill.

Swanson, 6-2 and 230, was known as the most ferocious hitter on the

team at that time.

“My hand shot straight up,” Brief said. “I wanted to prove to my

coaches and to my teammates and to myself that I could take him on.”

David won the battle, as did Brief, and both became leaders among

their respective communities.

“He is definitely a leader on and off the field,” Monarch said.

“He was our most inspirational player last year. He continually

pushes kid to do their best in practice and in the game.”

Brief relishes the responsibilities associated with being a

leader.

“I’m the one who sets the tone for how we look coming on and off

the field,” Brief said. “Coaches are very important, but so are the

captains. It’s like getting taught by your father and then your big

brother reinforces that message.”