2013 High School Backs to Watch

As usual, there are a wealth of runners to watch this fall in the high school ranks, especially in Class A. These are backs who did not reach the 1000 yard mark a year ago but are certainly worth a long look. I'm sure there is a RB (or 6) hiding somewhere off my radar that will seem to appear out of nowhere. That is what makes the great sport of high school football a joy to watch week in and week out. Of course it's the boys up front that make or break any running back. No line, no blocks, no yards. All most backs ever ask is that a hole appears at the line of scrimmage. What happens after that is what makes a good back an outstanding back. You know the drill.

Tell you what, keep a close eye on those "A" boys. There are two quarterbacks that are just superb athletes who will make Friday nights a whirlwind of eye popping plays. I think Millard West's Ross Drwal and Millartd North's Clay Fischer are pure football guys who can kill you from anywhere on the field including defense. Of course Fischer already has a Husker scholarship in his hip pocket, but Drwal in my opinion is underrated except for those who have seen him play. A smart football observer knows how good this kid is.

Here is the list of backs followed by their yards, average per carry and touchdowns:

*Class A:

Hayden Johnson-Norfolk-929-173 (5.4)(10td)

Logan Gier-Omaha Westside-828-88 (9.4)(8td)

Quentin Williams-Millard South-820-82(10.0)(13td)

Yohanna Shokai-Lincoln High-816-158(5.2)(4td)

Drew Klein-Papillion LV-South-743-111(6.7)(10td)

Cody Basch-Papillion LV-South-646-100 (6.5)(8td)

Mikiah Slade-Lincoln Northeast-592-121 (4.9)(4td)

Anthony Cloyd-Millard South-586-148 (3.9)(13td)

Clay Fisher-Millard North-534-78 (6.9)

Ross Drwal-Millard West-528-109 (4.8)

*Class B:

Jake Hasty-Elkhorn-886-154 (5.8)(10td)

Gage Smith-Gering-849-134 (6.3)(8td)

Jessup Workman-Beatrice-Jr.-783-125 (6.3)

Omar Rodriquez-Schuyler-740-151 (4.9)

Evan Neville-York-722-128 (5.6)(9td)

Jackson Reetz-Norris-633-121 (5.2)(13td)

DeQuan Bell-Omaha Roncalli-571-127(4.5)(6td) {1,236 yds/Soph}

Matt Stankowski-Columbus-550-125 (4.4)

*Class C-1:

Buzz Neiderklein-Adams Central-842-173 (4.8)(15td)

Mitchell Harring-Falls City-750-112 (6.7)(6td)

Zac Jones-Broken Bow-725-125 (5.8)

Dexter Puncoher-GICC-674-148 (4.6)

Tyler Theye-Fairbury-642-110 (5.8)(12td)

Gunnar Garner-Ashland-Greenwood-617-137 (4.5)

John Stauffer-Milford-606-121 (5.0)

Mark Jarecki-Columbus Lakeview-566-61 (9.3)

Zach Heitkamp-Syracuse-524-119(4.4)

Colin Sabatka-Wahoo Neumann-490-91(5.4)

*Class C-2:

Arlie Myers-Omaha Brownell-Talbot-969-178 (5.4)(9td)

Wade Knott-Louisville-894-174-Jr.(5.1)(10td)

Aaron Carlson-Ponca-824-140 (5.9)

Jay Kuhns-Johnson County Central-815-102 (8.0)(8td)

Skyler Deloske-Louisville-800-110 (7.3)(11td)

Tyler Shalla-Southern-789-121 (6.5)(8td)

Houston Huss-Stanton-755-103 (7.3)(7td)

Jake Hickock-Centura-754-132 (5.7)(10td)

Levi Rosenquist-Centura (Jr)-743-101 (7.34)

Josh Dolph-Wakefield-708-151 (4.7)

Gage Marshall-Hershey-695-120 (5.8)

TD Gregory-Cambridge-663-104 (6.4)

Tim Johnson-Perkins County-641-70 (9.2)(7td)

Evan Wookman-Crofton-606-73 (8.3)

Jacob Osburn-Centura-544-84 (6.5)

*Class D-1 (8-Man):

Kyle Jensen-Exeter-Milligan-987-151 (6.5)(26td)

Tyler Schimonitz-Paxton-964-136 (7.1) (20td)

Dalton Pinkerton-Omaha Christian-924-148 (6.2)

Hayden Cahoy-Overton-902-136 (6.6) (17td)

James Sluka-Exeter-Milligan-881-141 (6.3)(21td)

Jared Tomjack-O'Neill St. Marys-868-159 (5.5) (12td)

Lucas Gurnsey-Clarkson-Leigh-851-88 (9.7)(14td)

Logan Fleming-High Plains-824-70 (11.8)

Greg Olson-Chambers-Wheeler Central-771-119 (6.5)(6 games)

Colton Ives-Harvard-769-147 (5.2)(12td)

Spencer Volden-Clearwater-Orchard-(Jr)-765-148 (5.2)(12tds)

Chace Morgan-Emerson-Hubbard-732-154 (4.8) (15td)

Brady Turek-Hemingford-(Jr)-728-113 (6.5) (21td)

Brady Stuhmer-Alma-694-144 (4.8) (13td)

Jesse Faltys-(Jr.)-Howells-Dodge-669-70 (9.6)

Chance Chrisman-(Jr)-McCool Junction-626-86 (7.3) (12td)

Nathan Hogan-Emerson-Hubbard-523-80 (6.6)

*Class D-2:

Preston Schnitzler-(FR.)-Kenesaw-965-120 (8.0)(19TD)

Eli Hrock-Diller-Odell-(Jr)-959-145 (6.6) (17td)

Alex Kunz-Stuart-958-169 (5.7) (21td)

Seth Gohl-Hayes Center-915-182 (5.0) (15td)/Tremendous Tackler(93UA/60A)

Ivan Damit-Og-(Jr)-Wilcox-Hildreth-814-102 (8.0)

Austin Blume-Hitchcock County-792-85 (9.3) [1,700 yds as Sophomore in 6-Man]

Robby Heesacker-Humphrey-738-129 (5.8)

Wesley Jardim-Nebraska Lutheran-736-82 (9.0) (22TD)

Tyler Ebal-Scribner-Snyder-731-156 (4.7)

Dillon Menke-Lawrence-Nelson-(Jr)-729-122 (6.0)

Steven Horrocks-Hay Springs-711-95 (7.5)(16td)

Grant Freese-Nebraska Lutheran-661-107 (6.2)

Tristen Boyce-Hampton-648-115 (5.6)

Devin Dibbern-Amherst-(Jr)-577-118 (4.9)

Kyle Dlouhy-Deshler-(Jr)-561-135 (5.2)