A look is all it takes.
Ki’kwon Cork says the first glance usually is his. Whether he is lined up on the left or the right, the West Lowndes High School senior wide receiver has the confidence to know all he has to do is look at sophomore quarterback Melvin Crawford and it’s on.
It doesn’t if coverage is tight or relaxed because the 6-foot-2 Cork is going to get the football wherever Crawford throws it.
The Crawford-to-Cork connection paid off in two touchdowns in West Lowndes’ 40-26 victory against Vardaman in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 1A, Region 3 game.
In all, Crawford threw three touchdowns to help West Lowndes (2-4, 2-1 Region) earn its second-straight victory.
For their accomplishments, Cork and Crawford are The Dispatch’s Prep Players of the Week.
“I had good enough confidence I would be able to make those passes because we had a height advantage over their defensive back,” Crawford said. “I knew if I could put it where it needed to be it would be caught and that he would do something with the ball.”
Crawford felt he had the right touch on both his touchdown passes to Cork. He said Cork is “quick with his feet” and has good hands. Crawford said his other receivers have similar skills, which gives him plenty of options when he has enough time to throw.
“We’re going to have to penetrate with short passes first and then start working deep,” said Crawford, a 5-11, 140-pounder. “We have a lot of confidence. All we have to do is keep playing team ball and work together and communicate.”
West Lowndes coach Anthony King said Crawford has throwing ability to take advantage of having four receivers 6-2 or taller. He said Crawford splits time at quarterback with Quay Sanders, but both of them are on the field at the same time to help the Panthers capitalize on their speed at the skill positions.
King praised the efforts of the offensive line for giving Crawford enough time to throw the football. The two scoring passes to Cork went for 40-50 yards.
“We knew when he was in the seventh and eighth grade that he could pass real good,” King said of Crawford. “He is real smart. We couldn’t run the ball on (Vardaman) at all. Melvin was in at quarterback most of the time and he bailed us out. He ran the offense very efficiently.”
Cork said he and Crawford worked hard to in preseason practice to develop the chemistry that is paying off now. He said he learned quickly that he needs to run his routes hard because Crawford has the arm strength to throw it to anyone at any time.
Against Vardaman, Cork couldn’t help look at Crawford to make sure they were on the same page when their plays were called.
“We have that good connection,” said Cork, who is in his second year at wide receiver. “It comes from practice. We are always getting throws in before and after practice.”
Now that opponents might know to pick up on the looks and nods Cork and Crawford exchange, be prepared for them to develop other unspoken moves to signal the ball is going to be in the air and Cork is going to have to go get it.
Judging from the confidence Crawford and Cork have in each other, you get the sense they are going to enjoy the challenge of beating cornerbacks and safeties in a variety of ways.
“It’s kind of hard to stop me,” Cork said. “He can throw it up and I am going to get it. We have that confidence because he can throw it real good and I can catch it. You have to be a good DB to stop us on that.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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