Shoemate’s role is right at running back

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I have the seen the immediate future of Servite football and he wears No. 3.

You knew that already? Well, D.J. Shoemate made his debut Friday as a running back -- and nothing but a running back. No more slot back. Not more cute stuff. Just lining up in the backfield and running it right down their throats.

He broke tackles. He moved piles. He eluded tacklers. He broke off a long run. He scored four touchdowns.

(Note: Photo of Shoemate, No. 3 above, is from an earlier game this season.)

He may be one of the most electrifying players in Orange County -- or all of the Southland for that matter -- and he looked at home in Servite’s 32-15 Trinity League victory over Santa Margarita at Brea Olinda High.

And isn’t this really the way it should be? Servite has a terrific offensive line, including USC-bound left tackle Matt Kalil, who played in his first game since suffering third-degree burns on his arm and shoulder a few weeks ago. So why not use it?

On all the scouting services, Shoemate is listed as an athlete. He is certainly that. But this should be his calling card the remainder of the season. If Servite wants to bust him out wide and make an opponent burn a timeout when they notice he’s there, fine. But this just feels right.

It’s what Corona Centennial does with Ryan Bass. It’s what St. Bonaventure does with Darrell Scott. They’ve got the horse, and they let him pull the wagon. There are plenty of good running backs out there, and there’s no reason USC-bound Shoemate can’t be one of them.

Maybe it couldn’t be done earlier because of Shoemate’s foot injuries. It makes sense that he had to be 100% healed before taking on the rigors of a running game. But through 31 carries and 184 yards Friday against a defense that limited Scott to 72 -- Shoemate looked like the full-course meal.

‘My coaches have been talking to me, said we need to get you more touches,’ Shoemate said afterward, his face smeared with eye black. ‘These guys have been working their tails off the whole week. I’ve been trying to step it up, listen to everything. This is something new, running back. It’’s a new position and I’ve got to follow certain things. I was real patient with it, trusting my line.

‘Throughout the whole game, I was like, ‘Trust my line, trust my line. It’s going to be there, it’s going to be there.’ I can’t do it without the great blocking and the great execution on display tonight [Friday].’

So this is how it’s going to be, right?

‘I can’t say anything, I don’t really know,’ said Shoemate, who really does come off as a bit naive about such things, very gentle, very understated and reserved. ‘Coaches give me a game plan, and I just try to stick with it.’

And that’s sticking it to opponents. I’ve seen Servite play twice this season. The one that played Friday could be poised for another deep playoff run. The one that played Friday isn’t fooling around. The one that played Friday knows what it wants and how to get it.

- Martin Henderson

-- Image by Christina House