Published: August 27, 2007 01:27 pm            

Birmingham’s back

Versatile champion athlete returns to lead Luther attack

To say that Luther senior Josh Birmingham is versatile is just one of the many terms used to describe the state 100 meter dash and long jump champion, who is beginning his fourth year as a two-way starter for the Lions.

Birmingham, who is also a starter for the Lions basketball team, may be one of the few high school players in the state who ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, threw a touchdown pass and then ran back a punt 65 yards—all in one game!

At 5-9, 175, the explosive Birmingham will be counted on by Coach Brian McCalip to spark a large cast of returning starters as the Lions prepare for their final season in Class A-5. The Lions only graduated three starters from last year’s club and will have experience at every position.

They’ll need it with the likes of Tonkawa, Crooked Oak, Crescent and Stroud on their schedule of district play.

Birmingham, who rushed for 800 yards as a sophomore and doubled that last year, started the season as the feature back with Josh Pridemore calling the signals at quarterback. Toward the end of the season, McCalip flip-flopped the pair with Birmingham taking over under center, and with spectacular results.

Look for the Lions to get him the ball, no matter where he lines up on offense.

Others returning on offense in addition to Pridemore and Birmingham include sophomore receiver Ethan Sherer, sophomore James Raines at tight end, another sophomore Brandon Hines in the backfield, junior P. J. Sherer at center, tackles Nathan Coates and Shane Paxton, both seniors, at the tackles and senior Brandon Coleman at guard.

On defense, the Lions must find replacements for standout linebacker Kevin Wilson, defensive back Brent Mussyal and linemen Justin Paine and Josh Ponder, but Pridemore and Birmingham will serve as the nucleus of rugged secondary to roam behind a front four of Paxton, Coleman, Sherer (P. J.) and Coates with help expected from a talented sophomore class.

Hines is counted on as the ringleader of the linebacking corp and McCalip is again counting on some younger players to step up.

The Lions will open the 2007 season on the road at Meeker where former Lion head coach Randy Hedge is no longer the coach, having moved up to high school principal at his alma mater.

Then the Lions will have two home games, hosting Wellston and Bridge Creek.

        

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