HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK : Blackwell Explodes as Hart’s Quiet Cannon

Say hello to Howard Blackwell and the most one-sided conversation in high school football begins.

How’s it goin ‘ , Howard?

“All right.”

Grab him for a postgame interview and Blackwell, Hart High’s multitalented senior tailback, tightens like a goal-line defense.

Great game, Howard. How’d it feel to beat those guys?

“Felt great.”

Shove a microphone in Blackwell’s face and he really begins to backpedal.

“He doesn’t interview well, he just gives one-word answers,” said Steve Clark, a commentator for KBET radio, which has broadcasted five of Hart’s games this season. “A lot of ‘Yep’ and ‘Nope’ and ‘Uh-huh.’ He kind of leaves us hanging there. Then it’s, ‘Well, back to you in the booth.’ ”

Said Blackwell: “I kind of shy away from the attention, but I like it sometimes. It’s just when I’m around grown-ups that I’m kind of quiet.”

Elocution be damned, just give him the football. If actions really do speak louder than words, Blackwell qualifies as Hart’s keynote speaker.

Mr. Blackwell has been Mr. Everything this season, carrying, catching, returning, intercepting, even throwing the football while leading the Indians to an 8-1 record and a Southern Section Division III playoff berth.

Blackwell has carried the ball 123 times for 858 yards, caught 27 passes for 517 yards and returned 15 punts for 252 yards. He also has scored 23 touchdowns and he has even thrown a touchdown pass, although it was nullified by a holding penalty.

All told, Blackwell has accounted for 46% of the Indians’ offense.

On Friday night against Schurr, Blackwell delivered what might be the best performance of his career. In a dazzling display of open-field running, Blackwell carried the ball 19 times for 195 yards and three touchdowns, including a 23-yard burst in the final 58 seconds to lead Hart to a dramatic, 35-28, come-from-behind victory.

The win assured Hart of at least a tie for the Foothill League title. Last season, after winning six consecutive league titles, Hart stumbled to third place. But led by the bashful Blackwell, the Indians once again are the talk of the town.

“Howard Blackwell is awesome!” Coach Mike Herrington shouted after the game. “He can do everything. If he’s not the MVP of this league, then there is no MVP.”

Brigham Young, Hawaii, Montana State and Utah State all have shown interest, but Blackwell (5-foot-10, 170) is anything but signed and sealed.

“He’s starting to get feelers right now,” Herrington said. “And I’ve sent some tape around on him. Howard might be the best running back we’ve ever had.”

When he didn’t get the ball against Schurr, Blackwell took it. He set up the winning touchdown with three minutes to play by intercepting a pass and returning it 24 yards to the Schurr 36. Blackwell then carried on four consecutive plays, the last culminating with a victory spike in the end zone.

In the first quarter, Blackwell intercepted a pass and returned the ball 17 yards to the Schurr 17. On the next play, he bolted 17 yards off tackle and into the end zone for Hart’s first touchdown.

In the third quarter, after Schurr had taken a 21-14 lead, Blackwell returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the Hart 40. On the next play, he galloped 60 yards for a touchdown.

“I do what I have to do,” Blackwell said. “When I have to do it, I have to do it.”

Well said, Howard. Well said.