Shawnee football: Brown heritage continues for Wolves at QB

By Ryan Aber

Published: October 1, 2008

It's been a long time since someone with a last name other than Brown started a season as Shawnee's quarterback.

It looks like, barring injury, it'll be a few more years before that's the case.

No, Tucker Brown is no longer with the Wolves.

Now, it's his sophomore brother Brayle Brown that's turning heads as Shawnee's starting quarterback.

And Brown is a big reason why the Wolves are 4-0 and averaging more than 45 points per game.

"He's a competitor,” said Shawnee coach and Brayle's father, Billy Brown. "That's probably his biggest asset. He's seeing the field better and he's picking up blitzes faster.”

Friday, Brown and the Wolves face by far their toughest test of the season when they play at Carl Albert.

"They're so good skill-kid wise on the back end of their defense,” Billy Brown said. "They're good across the front but they're exceptional in the back end.”

And that should present a challenge to the sophomore quarterback.

But Brayle has passed every test so far.

Brayle's success has had a notable trickle-down effect on the rest of Shawnee's offense, most notable with Brett Davis, the Wolves' wide receiver who is committed to Tulsa.

Davis started at quarterback last season before Tucker became eligible and was slated to start there this year until the emergence of Brayle.

That allows the Wolves to use Davis in a variety of different roles.

"That's been a huge plus for us,” Billy Brown said. "We line him up at every skill position we have. He puts pressure on the defense, not knowing where he's going to be.

"We've got some other decent receivers that can catch the ball as well and Brett takes pressure off of the whole offense. Defenses always have to account for him. Having him out there makes us a better team.”

Brayle is just carrying on the long line of coach's sons to quarterback the Wolves.

Shawnee has started the season with a coach's son at the position for nine years no, since Tanner Whitson took over as Wolves starter in 2000.

Carter Whitson followed him, then Tucker and now Brayle.

Obviously being around Billy and Tucker benefited Brayle, but he's a different kind of quarterback than his older brother.

"You definitely see similarities when you watch them but there are plenty of differences,” Billy said. "Tucker was more of a beat you with his feet kind of guy. Brayle is more of a thrower.”

And those differences figure to get only bigger as Brayle develops.

He's already at about 6-foot-2 (although he's listed at 6-3 in Shawnee's programs), about four inches taller than Tucker.

Brayle's been taller than six foot since he was in seventh grade.

"As he gets bigger and stronger, he'll be more of a pure passer,” Billy said.

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