By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Southern Alamance needs a replenishment of running backs to keep its potent ground attack at full speed ahead.
The Patriots want to provide the same energy with a stout rushing strategy, and they’ll have a new crop of running backs to do so.
“I’m ready to get out and run the ball a little bit,” senior Justin Donley said.
The Patriots’ potential 1-2 punch, literally numbers 1 & 2:
He could be joined by senior Drake Davis, who has never had a rushing attempt on the varsity, and senior Kater Cornwell, who had done his previous good works on defense.
“I’m prepared for it,” Davis said. “It’s my senior year and I’ll have that certain mindset.”
Logan Foust was the Central 3-A Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year last season, gaining 2,077 yards on the ground and scoring 31 touchdowns. Combine those numbers with Jackson Parrish (1,108 yards, 15 touchdowns) and Josiah Tysinger (645 yards, 12 touchdowns) and it’s clear there’s a potential void.
So even coming close to replicating those statistics would be a task for any group of players rising into primary spots.
“We might not have a Logan because he was a great player,” Davis said.
But running behind an offensive line that’s well-equipped at moving defenders out of the way is good reason to embrace the responsibilities in the offensive backfield.
“We’ve got such a good line,” said Donley, who had some late-game action last year.
Cornwell said he hopes a three-pronged operation develops again this year, albeit with different running backs.
Donley said he’s confident there’s quality depth at the position, even though that was altered when Nathan McNeal, who might also have been in the mix, was shifted to quarterback.
Recent Southern teams have done large doses of their damage up the middle. There could be some tweaks.
“We’re getting outside more this year,” Donley said.
Davis, a returning starter at outside linebacker, said Donley has been best groomed for the workload at running back.
“Justin is the main guy for that spot,” he said. “We don’t have the same (experience) we had last year.”
Donley was the junior varsity’s main ball carrier two years ago as a sophomore. He said he knew he had to bulk up in advance of a similar role this year.
At 5-foot-9, he amped up workouts to get to about 180 pounds.
“I kind of know how it’s going to go,” Donley said of the physical toll. “I’d hate to be 160 running the ball every play.”
Davis, whose uniform number has changed from No. 44 to No. 1, said he won’t be inclined to try to fool any defenders in his way. He checks in at 5-10 and 190 pounds.
“I like to put my shoulder down,” he said. “If I have to, I’ll make a move.”
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