MORRIS GOT GAME FROM HIS COACH BUT MOM TAUGHT HIM EVERYTHING ELSE.

Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Most of Darveon Morris' high school football peers emulate past and present NFL or college stars.

Morris draws his inspiration from a 37-year-old female restaurant employee who's never played a down.

Morris' hero is his mother, Ra'chel Ford, who for nearly his entire life has been the only immediate family member he has known.

Morris' father hasn't been in his life in a meaningful way since he was about 6. Morris hasn't seen his father in seven years.

``She goes to work every day to support me,'' Morris said. ``It's just me and my mom, so I guess I want to prove to my dad that I can be something without him.''

If the early returns on his promising career are any indicator, it would appear that Ford provides Morris with all the inspiration he needs.

Morris, an unassuming 5-foot-11, 182-pounder, has quietly emerged as one of the Golden League's most efficient defenders. He leads the league with 42 tackles.

His development is especially remarkable considering he'd never played organized football at any level until his junior year.

Morris' play has helped catapult Knight (2-3, 1-1) into playoff contention. The Hawks, who are coming off an 18-14 Week 5 upset of Quartz Hill, hope to build on their momentum when they play host to league power Lancaster (3-2, 2-0) at 7 tonight.

Before last year, Morris hadn't played any organized sport since T-ball. Knight coach Jim Bauer recruited him out of a gym class.

And whatever Morris lacks in game experience, he more than makes up for in determination and instincts.

Morris said he didn't even understand the responsibilities playing outside linebacker entailed when tryouts began last summer. The quick study was among Knight's leading tacklers until suffering concussions that limited his playing time late in the season.

Bauer said Morris has a propensity for making clutch plays. He had 10 tackles in the Quartz Hill game.

Bauer believes Morris is a potential four-year college prospect who'll probably have to start out at a junior college.

``He's a playmaker, but he's really not that flashy,'' Bauer said. ``You don't realize he's making as many plays as he makes until you watch him on film.''

His ability to snuff out plays has impressed teammates.

``Other linebackers can hit and come up for the run, but they can't get back into pass coverage because they're not fast enough,'' Knight senior quarterback Terrell Merritt said.

Morris said he takes as much pride in his leadership role as he does in his physical ability.

He is known as the team's resident comedian, creating a light mood that teammates and coaches say is conducive to productive play and practices.

``I'm more of a leader by action, not one of those people who says a lot of things,'' Morris said. ``I feel like I'm looked up to, so I try to be a leader.''

Morris cites his mother's influence for helping him develop leadership skills.

``She's given me a lot of advice from her personal experiences,'' Morris said. ``She talks to me about everything from girls to how I might be judged because of my (African-American) race.''

Ford said she doesn't want her son to hold grudges against his father. She said her motivation is to provide an environment for her son that she never had.

Ford and her son moved to Palmdale about seven years ago from an impoverished Pasadena community where she was raised.

``If he wants to prove a point to his father, that's fine, but he's also doing it for himself, too, because he knows where his mother comes from,'' Ford said. ``He knows my background of not doing the right things, of not going to school and hanging with the wrong crowd.

``I basically raised him by telling him how my life went.''

Ford, also raised by a single mother, said she blames herself for her son growing up without a father in his life.

``I think he would have been even better with a father because of the things a man and a boy are able to do,'' Ford said.

Ford tries to attend as many of her son's games as she can. But attending games often means missing work.

``Money doesn't matter to me on his game nights,'' she said. ``He needs to know that somebody's there for him, even if it's just me all by myself.''

When he was a child, Morris said, his mother did what she could to create a sense of normalcy in their home. He said he doesn't even recall missing his father.

``All I remember is having fun,'' Morris said. ``I really didn't care much for (my father) because if he didn't want me in his life, then why should I want him. You can't really miss something you've never had.''

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Knight High School linebacker Darveon Morris credits much of his success to mom Ra'chel Ford, who raised him alone.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer