Running game keeping Spirits high for undefeated Paraclete

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Last week, my colleagues Lauren Peterson and Eric Maddy mentioned the batch of undefeated teams still left in the Southern California. One of those teams is Paraclete, which can clinch its first outright Olympic League title since 2003 and finish the regular season undefeated with a victory over Kilpatrick tonight.

Unfortunately for the cinema-inspired program over at Kilpatrick, the Spirits should easily take this one thanks to all the goodies they have on both sides of the ball. Still, even though Paraclete is chock-full of players talented enough to bring home the Mid-Valley Division title this season, its running game has played a critical part in its success.

Coach Norm Dahlia has taken a committee approach to the running game, splitting most of QB Roniaha Tuiasosopo‘s handoffs between Jerry Kelly and Dante Donato.

Kelly is averaging an impressive 9.8 yards a carry and has 823 yards and nine TDs. He’s also scored four TDs on catches. Donato has 88 carries (four more than Kelly) for 575 yards and a healthy 6.5 yards a carry. Brandon Buteyn has also seen some substantial run time, averaging 7.7 yards a carry in 47 carries.

With numbers like these, you’ve got to tip your hat to the Paraclete offensive line and admit the Spirits are going to give those other parochial standouts Santa Clara and Bishop Diego a run at the divisional title.

-- Austin Knoblauch