The look could have meant trouble.

But faced with the loss of a key member of his boys track and field team, Noxubee County High School coach Tyrone Shorter had to make a move.

Even though Vernon Scott hadn”t competed in the hurdles since earlier in his career, Shorter knew the junior had plenty of speed and talent to make it work.

Still, he wasn”t sure how Scott would handle the transition.

“He looked at me and didn”t say a word,” Shorter said. “It was a look that said, ”Oh God not the hurdles again,” but he looked at me and said, ”Yes sir.” He then asked me if he had to do both of them (the 110- and the 300-meter hurdles).”

Scott”s initial apprehension about dropping the 200 and focusing on the hurdles quickly disappeared as he regained his technique and his confidence. It didn”t take long before Scott flashed the potential that had Shorter thinking Scott could become a champion by the end of the season.

“He kept getting better and better, and by the time we got to the district meet his technique was down and everything was good,” Shorter said.

Scott capped the transformation Saturday by delivering a time of 40.69 seconds to win the 300 hurdles at the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A meet at Pearl High.

Scott”s time edged Pontotoc”s Shaquille Gillard (40.70) and teammate Brandon Sanders (41.12) to help earn him a state title.

“(Competing in the hurdles) is just like riding a bike,” said Scott, who also finished second in the 110 hurdles (15.71). “Once you learn it is good.”

For his accomplishments, Scott is The Dispatch”s Prep Player of the Week.

Scott”s performance was one of several strong efforts by the Tigers. The 4×400 relay team of Sanders, Broderick Scott, Brelyon Spencer, and Jarius King won the event with a Class 4A record time of 3 minutes, 28.23 seconds. The 4×200 relay team was fourth (1:32.43) and the 4×100 team was fifth (44.77).

Vernon Scott”s performance capped an impressive postseason in which he posted a first and a third in the 110 hurdles (16.01, 15.66) and a second and a first in the 300 hurdles (42.04, 41.99) at the regional and North State meets.

Sanders” time of 42.01 edged Scott at the regional meet at Mississippi Valley State.

Scott admitted it was kind of a shock when Shorter approached him at the beginning of the season and moved him off the 200 and into the hurdles. He also said his initial feeling about the switch was disappointment because he said he would have preferred to have stayed with the 200 and with the relay teams.

It didn”t help his confidence that he hadn”t competed in the hurdles since ninth grade and he had to re-focus on his technique to calm thoughts about catching his foot on a hurdle and falling.

Those concerns didn”t last long, though, as Scott said his success early in the season helped pave the way for his title run.

“Seeing all of the other guys at the Class 4A meet, I just told myself I had come this far and don”t doubt yourself and you know you have got this,” Scott said. “When you put doubt in your mind you set yourself up for failure. When you don”t put that doubt in your mind you are going to go out there and do your best.”

Scott feels he could have done a little bit better this season. He said there were times this season when he felt he was jumping a little too high, which could have prevented him from trimming even more time off his finishes.

But Shorter said Scott, who also is a defensive back on the football team, made significant gains and lived up to the potential he saw in him.

“He took track to another level this year,” Shorter said. “He always has been a great runner, but he took it to another level. He is just an outstanding runner. He put more time in and dedicated more time to it. The time he put in paid off and his technique got better in the hurdles and his overall speed got better.”

Scott said this season is just a start. He plans to use his track and field performances as motivation to help him go even faster and to hone his technique so he can make his senior season memorable.

Shorter believes Scott can get there.

“He is ready to work,” Shorter said. “He was telling me after the track meet, ”Coach, I am going to win both of them (next year) and it is time for us to get another one in football. I feel good about it. He is a fiery kid, an energetic kid, and he is always into something. I feel good about his attitude toward track and football. He is a great athlete. I am glad to have him for another year.”

Scott said he wants to be a bigger contributor and a better leader to help the Noxubee County High football team, which won a state title in 2008, capture another state championship in 2011. His plan is simple: Work hard and set an example everyone knows pays off. If there is any doubt, Scott has a state championship medal for winning the 300 hurdles to prove he has the right approach.

“It is time to step up and be a leader and try to lead people in the right direction and not quit and show them hard work really pays off in the end,” Scott said.

Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.