BOYS

Eric Blair

SCHOOL: Ventura

SPORT: Football

YEAR: Senior

SEASON AT A GLANCE: Blair (5 foot 10, 175 pounds) has played sparingly at running back this season but as a defensive back has played every down. Coach Phil McCune decided Blair was better suited than the team’s other backs to play offense against Oxnard and was put in the starting backfield.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: In a game the Cougars needed to win to make the Southern Section playoffs, Blair gained 201 yards in 12 carries, including touchdown runs of 37 and 66 yards, to help Ventura post a 57-32 victory over Oxnard. He also returned an interception 48 yards for another score. Blair had managed only 244 yards in 44 carries over the first nine games. “It was phenomenal,” McCune said. “He played great.”