How can Northeast's Fred Orr, Tyrique Freeman coexist in same backfield?

What do you do when a 1,000-yard rusher arrives on your football team if you already have a 1,000-yard rusher in that same backfield?

Northeast football coach Chad Watson sat down with Tyrique Freeman, his running back standout from a year ago, to talk about how Watson was going to make his backfield work after Fred Orr transferred from Rossview to Northeast last spring.

It was a conversation that needed to be had by Watson and Freeman, a 6-foot, 240-pound tailback who ran for 1,098 yards last year for a team that finished 7-3 in the regular season and made the Class 5A playoffs.

"I just told Tyrique what our vision was for this offense and that nothing was going to change for him in terms of the amount of carries he was going to see," Watson said. "But that's the great thing about Tyrique, and Fred. They are both selfless guys. They're willing to do whatever it takes to win."

Freeman knows his team has a chance to make a big splash this year. Expectations are high at Northeast with the return of quarterback Heath Williams, Freeman, wideout Chris Taylor and linebacker Devon Dillehay and the addition of last year's city rushing leader in Orr, who ran for 1,420 yards with the Hawks.

"This offense is going to be special," Freeman said. "This team is going to be special. How can I not be excited about that. Having Fred around is going to help everyone, including me. It already has."

Freeman admitted he was unsure how the two would develop chemistry at first. But spring football put most of those doubts to rest.

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"I didn't know much about Fred," Freeman said. "But when he was around during the spring practice, we started to get to know each other, and now it's all about winning games. Stats don't really matter to me or him. We just want to win big games."

All eyes will be on the Eagles, who come into 2018 as maybe the co-favorites in Region 7-5A, which traditionally has been dominated by Henry County. The Patriots' second-half surge led to a 27-13 victory in Week 9 of last year.

Northeast is looking forward to the rematch Oct. 19 at The Eagles' Nest.

"That's one of those games that we want back," Freeman said.

But to get there, Northeast must get through the preceding eight games that include Clarksville High, West Creek and Rossview – another team that beat the Eagles last year.

"Having playmakers like Fred and Tyrique and Chris and now we have (basketball star) Alec Kegler on as a wide receiver, it's going to give us a lot of options on offense," Watson said. "I think it all will help in giving Tyrique an opportunity to be a big time playmaker."

While Orr provides a bit more speed on the outside, both he and Freeman can shred a defense inside the tackles. And if Northeast has a fourth-quarter lead, expect the Eagles to use both backs to eat clock.

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But Freeman isn't asking for the ball, and he isn't looking to rack up another 1,000-yard season. If it comes, so be it.

"My job is to do what's asked of me," Freeman said. "If I'm blocking or running or going out to catch it, I'm going to do that. If it means a win, I'm in. Everything else is secondary."

Reach George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.