Fitch overruns Tigers in Patriot’s 28-21 win

Ellender Patriots’ football coach Tawaskie Anderson has seen the light.

His “running back-by-committee” philosophy is being abandoned and sophomore Glen Fitch is being named the lone back.

“God revealed that I’ve been holding him back,” Anderson said.

The Almighty and a 36-carry, 374-yard, four-touchdown performance by Fitch in Ellender’s first victory of the season, 28-21 over Morgan City on Friday, gave Anderson the epiphany.

“I’ve never played a game as good as this,” said Fitch, 15. “Everything starts with the offensive line. They opened up the holes and I was able to hit them hard, especially the first half.”

Fitch broke loose in the second quarter with touchdown runs of 98, 18, and 53 yards. The game-winning, 5-yard touchdown run came with 38 seconds left in the game.

“He would have had more yards than that if we hadn’t stalled in the third quarter,” Anderson said.

While Fitch has started all season, Anderson wanted him to share the load.

The coach felt that was the only way the Patriots’ ground game would get close to the 1,602 yard- performance of Jesse Turner last year. (Turner now plays for Nicholls State.)

This is Fitch’s first year at the running back position. As a safety his freshman season, he had 43 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Even though the coach saw great talent in him, Fitch had to convince Anderson he could be an offensive weapon.

“I told him I could play running back, but he did not let me,” Fitch said. “I showed him what I had during the spring and summer. Ever since then, I’ve been a starter.”

Prior to coming to Ellender, Fitch played wide receiver at Oaklawn Junior High and in Terrebonne Parish’s recreation football league.

“I knew Glen was a special player when I watched him play at Oaklawn,” Anderson said. “He’s going to get better every game, every week, every season.”

Fitch has added 20 pounds of muscle to his slight frame since last season.

He needed every bit of that extra strength in the second half against the Tigers.

Even as Morgan City slowed him down during the third and fourth quarters, Fitch got the ball all but one play on the four-minute, game-winning drive.

However, one spectacular game does not make a great running back. Fitch understands he has much to learn about playing the position.

“I just got to keep working out everyday, going to practice, and doing what Coach Anderson tells me to do,” Fitch said. “I know he’s going to work me hard everyday, getting my steps down so I can hit the hole faster.”

“Right now, he’s doing this with just his athleticism,” Anderson said.

“The sky’s the limit for him. As long as he keeps doing the work and doing what the coaches ask of him, he’s going to be very successful.”