Healthy Attitude

Maurice Atwood took one step. Then one more. And another until there were too many to count.

He kept going, slicing here and slashing there, all the way to 93 yards in 23 carries.

It was a fine showing for most running backs. For Maurice Atwood of Ventura College, it was a revival.

Atwood made a smashing return to football on Saturday, nearly one year after tearing a ligament in his right knee, an injury that required surgery.

“The doctors kept telling me over and over the knee was stable,” Atwood said. “I told myself that whatever happened happened.”

Atwood, 6 feet 1 and 218 pounds, left his worries in the locker room. He gained more confidence with every carry, more faith in the doctors’ assurances with every hard hit to the leg.

His play showed the Pirates, a preseason favorite to challenge for the Western State Conference Northern Division title, their running game is in good shape despite a 14-13 loss to East L.A. in a conference interdivisional opener.

“He worked so hard to come back,” Coach Terry Morris said. “He hadn’t really practiced at all. The game was his first real practice. He was at about 50%.

“We are looking for bigger and better things in the weeks ahead. Wait until he’s at 100%.”

Atwood played solidly for the Pirates two years ago. He came to Ventura from Andress High in El Paso, Texas, and capably backed up Travis Rogers, gaining 564 yards in 79 carries with seven touchdowns. Rogers led the WSC with 1,845 yards and 266 carries.

The two were supposed to divide the load more evenly last season, but that plan went up in flames in the second game, a 17-7 nonconference victory over Mt. San Jacinto.

On his second carry, Atwood took a blow to the knee, the last he would take all season.

“I thought I might had done like a severe bruise,” Atwood said. “But I couldn’t put pressure on the leg.”

Atwood had surgery and finished the year with 74 yards in 14 carries. He received a medical redshirt year and began rehabilitating as the Pirates weaved a 9-1 regular-season record, tying Hancock for the division title. Ventura later lost to the Bulldogs in the WSC Bowl.

The rehabilitation was grueling but Atwood stuck to it, even skipping a trip home in the summer to work with therapists and trainers in Ventura. Morris said the knee became stronger every week but there was much work left to do the last few weeks.

“He worked so hard on the knee but not on his hamstring area,” Morris said. “The hamstring was real weak.”

With Rogers gone to Tennessee Tech, Atwood prepared to lead Ventura’s run-oriented offense this season.

“Before the season started, I felt the pressure that most of the load would be on me,” Atwood said. “But now I feel everyone has to work together. That’s the only way we are going to get to the top.”

The Pirates travel to Mt. San Jacinto (0-1) on Saturday and to Hancock on Sept. 23 for a showdown that could define their season. Atwood is keeping simple priorities for the games--and the season.

“I just want to win and stay healthy,” Atwood said.