Mole Leaves His Mark on Opponents

Ryan Mole made a big decision over the summer. He got a tattoo. His nickname, “Moley,” is engraved on his right arm.

His parents didn’t shout “Holy Moley” when they saw his tattoo, but that has become the rallying cry in Santa Maria each time Mole scores a touchdown for Righetti.

He has been on a touchdown stampede. He had five touchdowns in his final game last season against Ventura Buena in the Division IV playoffs. He scored five in Righetti’s season opener against Chino Hills Ayala. He had four more touchdowns last week against Santa Maria. That’s 14 in his last three games.

“I’ve had nightmares,” Ayala Coach Bob Mount said.

“He’s the real deal. The thing that made him so unique is he could hide behind his linemen and slingshot out.”

Buena Coach Rick Scott predicts Mole is headed for a record-breaking senior season as a running back.

“He’s a great back,” Scott said. “He’ll be one of the leaders throughout the season. He’s got great speed, reads blocks well and is a durable back.”

Mole, 5 feet 10 and 185 pounds, presents a challenge because of his 4.4 second 40-yard speed and legs that are built like cannons.

“I don’t think he’s been hit square and hard,” Righetti Coach Greg Dickinson said. “Maybe once or twice in three years.”

All he requires is one good block to give him running room and he’ll do the rest.

“He’s the best back I’ve had in my 17 years of doing this,” Dickinson said.

As a junior, Mole started gaining respect after averaging 9.6 yards per carry while rushing for 1,497 yards and scoring 22 touchdowns.

He also caught 33 passes for 489 yards during Righetti’s 9-2 season.

In the 2003 season opener, he rushed for 350 yards and scored on runs of 61, 60, 69 and 68 yards as well as on a 32-yard shuffle pass.

“Give me the ball and I’ll do stuff with it,” he said.

But he’s equally dangerous as a receiver.

He rushed for 147 yards and picked up 93 more receiving last week against Santa Maria.

Mole has been fast and elusive almost since birth. Before his second birthday, he broke his foot trying to jump from a balcony while chasing a cat.

“He ran at 9 months. He never walked,” his mother, Kim, said.

Mole begged his parents to let him play tackle football. They didn’t relent until he turned 11.

“I just wanted to play and loved it,” he said.

Several times over the last two seasons, Mole has scored on the opening carry of the game, letting Righetti fans know they should hold off making a trip to the snack bar until after the first possession.

“A lot of times the first guy doesn’t tackle me and if there’s an open lane, I just run,” Mole said.

Mole was born in Long Beach, lived in Bakersfield before his family moved to Santa Maria when he was 4. His father, Bryan, was unable to attend the season opener because of his job.

But the next morning, he watched the game on videotape and let everyone know how he felt.

“He jumped up and down. He was so happy,” Ryan said.

Some compare Mole to former Ventura tailback Tyler Ebell, who set a national rushing record with 4,494 yards and 64 touchdowns in 2000. Both are small backs who began their senior seasons not highly recruited.

Mole’s quick start should make colleges take notice, but he also needs to keep improving his academic performance. He wasn’t focused on school as a freshman and sophomore.

“I just slacked off,” he said. “I thought I could get by playing football. I finally realized I needed grades to go somewhere.”

Dickinson received criticism for scheduling a 200-mile, 3 1/2-hour trip on a Friday night to Ayala, a Division II team that had a roster double the size of Righetti’s.

The bus didn’t return to Santa Maria until after 2 a.m. But Righetti’s 62-28 victory and Mole’s performance have brought them recognition and respect.

It could be a “Holy Moley” season for the Warriors.

*

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com