Rocks' Tuttle playing for
past, present and future
By Marc Nesseler, Sports editor
November 7, 2002 10:37 PM
Rock Island senior defensive end Chris Tuttle is anxious for another second-round
playoff football shot at Rockford Boylan at Rock Island's Almquist Field.
However, his eagerness is not self-serving.
``I was pretty close with the seniors that year,'' said Tuttle, the only varsity Rock
remaining from that 2000 playoff run. ``I'd like to get some revenge back for those
guys.''
Two years ago, when Tuttle was a sophomore starter, the Boylan Titans ended the Rocks'
season with a 25-13, Class 6A second-round loss at Rocky. On Saturday, Rock Island (9-1)
again will face Boylan (8-2) in a home 6A second-round game.
``This year's seniors don't want to have their great times end, especially at home,''
said Tuttle, who leads Quad-Cities metro defenders in tackles-for-loss with eight and
sacks with seven. ``And, we don't want to let the fans down.''
For many Rock Island followers, that loss to Boylan two years ago still remains quite
vivid.
Titan quarterback Steve Harris, a basketball standout as well, ran for 60 yards and two
first-half touchdowns and passed for 99 yards.
Now a University of Illinois cornerback, Harris also had one of four Titan
interceptions.
The loss was equally as tough to swallow for the Rocks since they were playing without
their 1,000-yard rusher, Maurice Jones, who was declared academically ineligible earlier
in the week.
Yet, Tuttle has blocked out thoughts of that game.
``I don't remember much about that one at all,'' he allowed.
Maybe it's because he's zeroing in on the business at hand.
That would be getting his sights set on another Boylan quarterback who excels on the
basketball court as well.
Boylan signal-caller Matt Weber is 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. He's coming off a pair of
games in which he's combined for 24-of-43 completions for 431 yards and five touchdowns.
``They have a real good quarterback,'' said Tuttle, a 6-foot, 190-pounder who, with
22.5 career sacks, is two from being tied for No. 2 on the state's all-time sack list.
``We're going to have to get ahold of him quick and take the air out of him.''
To help him and his fellow defensive end, Daniel Payne, as well as interior linemen
Drew DeVore and Brandon Jones, keep tabs on Weber, the Rocks will have to again count on
skilled work from the defensive secondary that came through in the Rocks' 13-12
opening-round victory over Woodstock.
``We shut down the run last week, and that's our goal every week -- to stop the run
first and force them to pass and get the interceptions,'' said Tuttle.
The Rocks picked off two Woodstock passes, one by senior linebacker Justin Morelock and
the other by junior DB Nick Fleming. Tuttle also is counting on strong, steady support
from his senior classmates in the secondary -- Luke Depron, Nathan Gibbs and Terrell
Williams.
Copyright 2001, Moline Dispatch
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