DIAGRAM: This is a a great inside option play that has worked well for us. A few seasons back, we scored a 38-yard touchdown on the very first play of the season! For this play to be successful, the QB must draw the DE toward him on the play side and then pitch the ball inside.
Receiver X blocks the near CB or LB, while receiver Y takes 3-steps upfield and runs a hard post-pattern inside, sealing the inside Safety. The QB takes the snap, opens up to the left, reverse-pivots and fakes the handoff up the middle. After the fake, he finds the mesh-point and runs to the play side, reading whether to keep the ball or pitch to the left WB. The TB makes a lead block into the B-gap and attacks the inside LB, sealing him away from the play side.
The left WB secures the pitch from the QB, follows the blocking to the play side and runs to daylight. If the mesh or handoff is missed, the QB carries out the option, turns upfield and follows the blocking of the right WB.
—Bill Shepard, Head Coach,
Rockford Christian High School,
Rockford, Ill.