Banks leads the way for Lions

Augusta Christian's Jackson Whitley pedaled a stationary bike on the Lions' sideline as the football team prepared for practice Wednesday. A red cast concealed his arm.

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Beside him, William Banks took shotgun snaps and threw warm-up tosses.

This is probably not the comeback the sophomore imagined. Whitley sat out last season after breaking his collarbone against Ben Lippen, and he opened this season as the Lions' starting quarterback.

But Whitley broke his wrist the second week of the season, in the Lions' 28-0 loss to Charlotte Christian. He's expected to miss five weeks.

"He's had a couple of tough breaks -- no pun intended," Augusta Christian coach Bruce Lane said. "It was obviously disappointing."

Enter Banks, who already was slated to line up at quarterback in some packages for the Lions. The senior scored five touchdowns during the Lions' opener at Orangeburg Prep. He ran for a score and threw for another in his first start at quarterback, a 44-6 victory over Fox Creek on Sept. 5.

Banks is being used much like Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

"Except half the size," Banks said.

The Lions didn't seem to be dwelling much on the Charlotte loss. They had a similar start last season, losing to Charlotte Latin the second game of the season before winning their next seven games.

"We had a little hiccup in Charlotte," Lane said. "We never got in a rhythm up there. (Against Fox Creek) we had a real good rhythm. We expect to keep doing better."

Banks said not a lot has changed since Whitley went out, except his work load. He said the Lions have been running without a huddle.

"It's not really fast-paced," Banks said. "We just see what the defense gives and go from there."

The Lions combined for 86 points in their first two wins, both on the road. They returned home Friday to play Hilton Head Prep after opening with three away games.

"It's going to be good to be home," Lane said last week. "It will be nice to play on our own field in front of our own people."

Augusta Christian will play only four home games, because of its two-year agreement with Orangeburg Prep to play on the campus of South Carolina State University.

The Lions' region games are split. Lane's team will have Ben Lippen and Heathwood Hall at home and then will travel to play Cardinal Newman and defending state champion Hammond to close the regular season.

With any luck, Whitley will be back in the mix by then. If not, Lane is comfortable with Banks at the helm.

"We've really stayed with the base of what we're doing," Lane said. "We haven't changed a whole lot."