Injuries forced head coach Jim Ruark to think outside the box at the fullback position.
Video: Maurice "Moe Train" Norris highlightsInjuries force Hickory Hawks to put the ball in the hands of 280-pound junior.Maurice Norris has come out for football each of the past two years with the
Hickory Hawks (Hickory, N.C.) – an independent team sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
But much to the chagrin of head coach Jim Ruark, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound junior hasn't finished either season with the team.
Ruark is hoping that changes this fall. As seen in the video above, Norris can do some unique things for a big man on the gridiron.
Let's be honest, we love seeing 300-pounders tote the rock – especially when they can move the pile like Norris.
The Hickory Hawks bring together players from private schools that don't have a football team, home-schooled kids and even a few from local public schools.
"He actually goes to Hickory High School," Ruark said of Norris. "With our program, we're trying to save young men and give them an opportunity and we're trying to do it through football. We want them to make good decisions and be committed."
Norris turning into a ballcarrier probably wouldn't have happened if not for an injury to Ruark's starting quarterback. The Hawks moved their fullback under center and Norris – normally a defensive lineman – was needed to plug the hole in the backfield.
Ruark calls it the 'Big Moe' package and hopes to see more of it in 2016. The Hawks are playing an updgraded schedule this season (they met perennial NCISAA power Davidson Day earlier this month) and started 0-3.
But things are looking up. Ruark is excited about the direction of his program and that showed up on the field last weekend in a 64-12 win over the Carolina Gladiators.
