Norwood's Young is in a rush to the goal line

Two years ago, Mike Young was practically an afterthought on the Norwood High freshman football team. At 5-foot-3 and a touch over 130 pounds, Young saw some time at defensive back, but didn't get to run with the ball much, which was what he really wanted to do.

''Everyone thought I was too small," the Mustangs junior said. ''But I know I could run if they gave me a chance."

Young grew 3 inches and added 25 pounds heading into his sophomore season, prompting his coaches to give him a harder look. Then two things happened last September that changed Young's football life: He ran for five touchdowns in the first half of a junior varsity game against Framingham, and the entire tailback depth chart on the varsity squad got wiped out with myriad injuries.

So Young stepped in as a starting tailback in the fourth game of the 2003 season. And he ran: In his first varsity game, he had 247 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a 45-15 win over Framingham. And he ran some more. By the time the season was over, the sophomore had run for 1,700 yards, along with 13 touchdowns, and the Mustangs had their tailback spot covered for 2004 and 2005.

''I was so nervous that first time out," said Young. ''I went from barely playing at all to suddenly being in there against all these big seniors. I tried to convince myself it was just like any other football game, and just went out and ran."

If Young is fearful this fall, he's doing an outstanding job of hiding it. He grew another 2 inches and added another 15 pounds in the off-season. From a rushing perspective, he picked up right where he left off. He has 715 yards rushing through the first four games of the season, and his 10 touchdowns tie him with David Taylor of rival Natick for the Division 2 lead and with three players for second in Eastern Mass.

''The chance opened up for Mike, and he took it," said first-year Norwood coach Joe Curran, who was an assistant on last year's squad. ''It's rare that things happen in a way that gives a kid a break like that so early on, but he took full advantage of his opportunity and earned his spot. . . . He plays like he's 10 feet tall."

Last season's results were viewed as a bit of a mystery around Norwood. The Mustangs led the league and were among EMass leaders in total offense, but the team had a knack for losing close games. Norwood lost three of its last four games and finished with a record of 5-6, its first losing season since 1997.

That sort of record isn't taken very lightly in Norwood, where the Mustangs won a Division 2 Super Bowl in 2000 and lost to Whitman-Hanson on a last-second field goal in 2001. Coach Ralph Calvanese left the school after last season, and Curran, who has been with the Norwood football program in various capacities, was named to the head job after an intensive search.

Curran's presence has been one factor in Norwood's fast start, a 3-1 record in its first four games.

''It comes from the coaching on down," said Young, who is also a shooting guard on the Norwood varsity basketball team.

''They trust us to do what we're capable of doing . . . [which has led to] a lot of energy and enthusiasm among the guys. Everyone here is ready to run through a wall to win," he said.

A self-described ''shifty" runner, Young started off the season with a bang, scampering for 166 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-17 win at Framingham. A week later, he piled up 216 yards and two scores in a 26-7 victory at Brookline. That was followed by a career-best 231-yard performance with four touchdowns in a 27-15 win over Newton North.

Norwood finally met its match on Saturday, falling 24-21 to Bay State Carey foe Braintree. Young was held to a season-low 102 yards and one score in the game.

The Mustangs don't have time to brood over their loss, though, with a pair of crucial Bay State Herget Division games approaching. They will be visiting leader Natick (4-0) tomorrow night, and going up against Walpole (3-1) on Oct. 16. (While the Bay State League is divided into the large-school Carey and small-school Herget divisions, results from games played against both divisions count in each division's standings.)

''The further we go, the bigger the games get," said Young. ''I just look at it as bigger and bigger challenges."