He Plays the Field at Burroughs : Football: Indians utilize Barrett’s skills at a number of positions.

When future opportunities come for Mike Barrett to talk about his glory days playing high school football, he will have an unusual, bittersweet story to tell.

How many times has a player passed for 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns and lost his position?

Barrett has.

How many times has a player rushed for 225 yards and scored seven touchdowns in a game yet couldn’t hold his starting job at running back?

Barrett is that player.

He is no ordinary member of the Burroughs High team. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior can play most positions on the football field, so Coach Robert dos Remedios always puts Barrett where he is most needed.

In two seasons, dos Remedios has moved Barrett from receiver to quarterback to running back to H-back (a modified tight end).

Last week, while No. 1 running back Robert Barillas was out because of an injury, Barrett stepped in with his 225-yard rushing performance in a 63-35 victory over Valencia.

He scored on runs of one, one, one, 20, 55 and 16 yards, and returned a fumble 29 yards for another touchdown.

“He’s the MVP of our team,” said dos Remedios, who touted Barrett as a possible two-way All-Foothill League selection before the season. “He’s the heart of our team.”

Barrett has been a starting linebacker on the varsity since the fifth week of his sophomore season. He was the team’s leading tackler last year and is among the leaders this season. Last year, he returned two kickoffs more than 90 yards for touchdowns. This season, he has returned an interception and a fumble for scores.

Burroughs (3-4-1, 0-2 in league play) has struggled, but no one can fault Barrett.

After a 21-7 loss to Canyon two weeks ago, a reporter told dos Remedios he needs more players to compete.

Said dos Remedios: “I need 22 Mike Barretts.”

Barrett became Burroughs’ designated utility player three years ago, when he was moved from running back to quarterback on the freshman team.

He played only linebacker as a sophomore and was a receiver last season until dos Remedios had him swap positions with quarterback Scott Boldvich.

Barrett’s favorite position is running back--and the Indians are 3-1-1 this year when he has started in the backfield. He ran for 319 yards and six touchdowns the first two games. Yet he knew he would be replaced when Barillas, a sophomore and “the back of the future,” turned 15 in week four.

But Barrett, not Barillas, is the talk of the team.

“He’s amazing,” senior offensive lineman Elton Odo said. “Even when we don’t block well for him, I look up and there’s Barrett running 65 yards for a touchdown. He’s a great athlete. He can do anything.”

Barrett said he doesn’t mind changing positions.

“I don’t mind people depending on me,” he said. “If it helps us win, I’m more than happy.”

Barrett leads the Indians with 14 touchdowns and 84 points. He has 13 receptions for 175 yards, but quarterback J.K. Scott said Barrett is sometimes frustrated.

“He makes comments like, ‘I wonder what position I’m going to play this week?’ ” Scott said. “But he goes with the flow.

“He’s valuable, because he knows what everybody on the field is supposed to do--even all the blocking assignments.”

Barrett said he wants to play junior college football and hopes to develop into a Division I defensive back. But before he moves on, Barrett would love to play another game at running back.

“I hope it happens again,” he said. “That was a helluva lot of fun.”