When is two completions for a modest 18 passing yards considered a stellar performance for a high school quarterback? When you're Cumberland Valley senior Chris Harrell, that's when.
Harrell, of course, did a lot more than complete half of his four passing attempts Friday night against Dallastown. Less than 24 hours after head coach Mike Whitehead fired off a text to announce that Harrell would replace regular starter Chris Galbraith under center, the Eagles' signal caller steered the powerful ship like a salty old sailor.
And Harrell, who entered the game with a total of two completions for 23 yards, even chipped in a fourth quarter TD sneak that essentially put the visiting District 3-AAAA Wildcats to bed with 5:36 to play.
“I expect him to play well. He practiced well all year and he was right behind [Galbraith] coming out of camp,” said Whitehead, learning Thursday that Galbraith had elected to cast his injured wrist on his non-throwing arm earlier in the day. Galbraith suffered the injury in CV's quarterfinal victory over Hempfield.
“When we do group work he and Chris alternate every play. Obviously, I texted him at 8 o'clock and told him he's starting, so it was sort of a last-minute thing. I knew he'd be ready. He's a great kid, a smart kid, and he knows our offense. I wasn't overly concerned for what we do.”
Harrell admitted having hard-chargers Tyler Heisey and Tyler Updegraff by his side absorbed some of the pressure, but this was the win-or-go-home postseason. Even his teammates were impressed by his poise under pressure.
“Chris Harrell really stepped it up today after Galbraith's injury,” said defensive end Brady Morris. “We were really happy with him.”
And Harrell's critique of his play? “The coaches just told me to be calm, do what I can and take it one play at a time,” he said. “Between [Heisey and Updegraff], what is that, 50 carries between the two of them? I just had to rely on the rest of the team game.”
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker