Backs Running Up Big Numbers

Jack Nemzek has coached football at South Hills High for 26 years, long enough to admit that few things surprise him anymore.

But like a lot of coaches and observers of the athletic scene in the San Gabriel Valley, Nemzek has caught himself doing a double take on Saturday mornings.

“Every time I open up the paper, it seems like someone has rushed for more than 200 yards,” Nemzek said. “I don’t remember a deal like this where there were this many good running backs around. There’s always been a few, but there must be 15 or 20 of them this season.”

Indeed, the San Gabriel Valley has its usual complement of running backs who are considered Division I prospects, including senior Scott Fields of Bishop Amat, Saladin McCullough of Muir and Lawrence Lanham of Nogales.

Noteworthy this season, however, is the preponderance of lesser-known talent that has emerged.

Last week, for example, four players rushed for more than 200 yards, including Sierra Vista’s Joe Ruvalcaba, who broke his own school record with 282 yards against San Dimas.

Fifteen players gained more than 100 yards during a weekend in which McCullough and Monrovia’s talented Jason Lowe were held to 98 and 80 yards, respectively.

“I don’t think we’ve ever have had this many good runners spread out this much,” said Tony Zane, who has been coaching at Baldwin Park for 20 years. “They all seem to be averaging six and seven yards a carry.”

Several schools are blessed with more than one outstanding runner. Lanham and Lamonte Adams, for example, give Nogales one of the Southern Section’s most potent combinations. South Hills has Jacques Jordan and Tray Nelson. Bassett features Graig Moore and Tony Garcia while Muir lines up McCullough and Linza Williams.

But every school seems to have at least one outstanding back, including such traditional have-nots as Mark Keppel, for which John Franco has gained more than 1,000 yards.

“I don’t know if there’s that many Eric Bieniemy types out there,” Nemzek said in reference to the former Bishop Amat and University of Colorado standout, “but these guys can surely play at the smaller colleges.”

Coaches in the area offer several theories for the surplus of talented runners and the yardage they are accumulating.

“I don’t think it’s weaker defenses, I think it’s better offenses,” said Zane, whose team features running back Lawrence Phillips. “Some of the teams have gotten away from throwing the ball and returned to the basics. Some are saying, ‘Hey, we do this pretty good. Until someone stops us, we’re going to keep doing it.’ ”

Blair Coach Gene Zeller, who employs a backfield that includes talented junior Z-Ukoni Hodges, said runners are getting more opportunities because there are fewer talented passers playing quarterback.

“There’s not a lot of great throwers this year,” Zeller said.

Northview’s Dave Gallis, Marc Ruiz of Baldwin Park and Workman’s Richard Garrison are among the San Gabriel Valley’s top passers in terms of yardage. However, Rosemead quarterback Matt Koffler is generally regarded as the one senior who will earn a scholarship to a Division I school this year.

“Like everything else, it goes in cycles,” Walnut Coach Jim Patricio said. “This year happens to be a cycle of real good running backs. It’s been about seven years since I remember there being this many good ones.”

Some coaches say the influx of talent in their backfields is a direct reflection of a similar improvement in their offensive lines.

As Nogales Coach Brian Beveridge said: “Average running backs with good offensive lines are dangerous.”

Which makes above-average running backs with good offensive lines almost unstoppable.

“Look at Bishop Amat,” Charter Oak Coach Lou Farrar said. “(Scott) Fields is excellent. But you couldn’t find a better group of tougher, grittier linemen than they have.”

Dwayne DeSpain of Los Altos holds the view shared by most coaches when it comes to the relationship between their backs and linemen--in this or any year.

“We don’t have a Division I running back, but we have some of the best offensive linemen we’ve ever had here,” DeSpain said. “There are a certain kids (backs) around that are going to do well without a great offensive line. But most wouldn’t be anywhere without it.”