Quarles adds plenty to Vikings’ arsenal

Demetrius Quarles had big plans for his 2009 season.

He was coming off a year in which he scored five touchdowns on 10 receptions as a backup receiver for Woodbridge and was an All-Northwest Region defensive back with 68 tackles and six interceptions.

He then committed to Miami (Ohio) University in the offseason and was looking to show what he could really do as a full-time starter.

Those plans changed, though, when he suffered a broken left elbow and wrist in an August car accident, a crash that injured teammate Darius Smith as well.

"Being my senior year," Quarles said, "I was hoping to come out and have a big year. I thought I could do something big this year."

Instead, Quarles had to watch from the sidelines as his Vikings teammates won seven straight games to open the season while his left limb mended.

Now the 5-foot-10, 150-pound speedster is back, working his way onto the field on both sides of the ball. Against Potomac last week, a 21-7 Woodbridge win, Quarles caught his first two passes of this season, finishing the night with 25 yards.

For a team like Woodbridge with numerous weapons and a myriad of ways to beat opponents, the return of Quarles makes the Vikings (8-0, 4-0) even deeper.

"With the way Darius [Smith] and Collin [Frazer] have stepped up this year as full-time receivers," interim head coach Kevin Smith said, "to bring someone back of [Quarles'] caliber just adds to our offense. I'm sure Frank [Buckley]'s smiling, as well."

The Vikings have had 15 different players score touchdowns on offense this year entering tonight's Cardinal District tilt at Osbourn Park (7-1, 5-0) and five have 140 or more rushing yards. Three players have eclipsed the century mark in receiving yardage as well.

Quarles will give defenses one more player to keep an eye on for the rest of Woodbridge's season.

"He's a heck of a receiver and he's starting to understand defenses," Smith said. "When he sees outside linebackers or flat defenders doing certain things, he can adjust his route off of it."

Quarles and Buckley have evolved together enough to be able to make unspoken changes to the called play in response to what the defense is showing.

"He sees stuff that I can see and we have a bit of a connection," Buckley said. "It'smore of a mental thing—we're on the same page."

Smith limited Quarles' time in the Potomac game to just offense—and even that was a small number of plays—because of the wet weather, noting that a slip and an awkward landing could lead to further injury. Quarles doesn't expect the same limitations this week.

"I was cleared Wednesday [Oct. 21] and I'm not 100 percent," he said, "but I feel good and I'm ready to come out and play at a high level. I should be back on defense. I'm playing a lot this week."

The back pad Quarles wears with his shoulder pads has "MU RedHawks Bound" written in red and black—Miami's colors—reminding himself of what he nearly lost with the preseason accident.

"I was happy I committed before that," Quarles said. "I don't know how many looks I would have gotten after the accident. [Miami's coaches] were straight with everything and they only wanted me to get better."

Now Quarles is looking to make an impact on the Vikings' anticipated playoff run.

"I hope to bring senior leadership and build on what we've got going," Quarles said. "I want to be another explosive player on offense.

"I have a lot to make up in a short amount of time."

Staff writer Joe Conroy can be reached at 703-878-8047.