A few weeks ago, the Plymouth-Whitemarsh backfield duo of Corey Kelly and Tim Brown received brief mention in this notebook for making up the bulk of the Colonials’ offensive production.
It turns out the pair more than likely could be one of eastern Pennsylvania’s first 1,000-yard rushing duos of the season.
Kelly (1,057 yards) and Brown (938) are on the verge of the accomplishment and are one of eight potential backfield duos in the eastern half of the state who could have that distinction by the end of the regular season or early in the playoffs.
Having a team finish with a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the same season isn’t rare – 24 teams accomplished the feat in 2011 and 27 did it in 2010. Since 2006, there have been 107 different instances across the state of a pair of 1,000-yard rushers on the same team.
What is notable is that Kelly and Brown are believed to be the first pair of 1,000-yard rushers from Plymouth-Whitemarsh since 1993, when Matt Matheson and Mark Washington accomplished the feat.
Other Eastern PA programs who could boast a pair of 1,000-yard rushers by season’s end include Nazareth (Parish Simmons, 980, and Jordan Gray, 918); Tri-Valley (Blake Bowman, 1,425, and Dalton Miller, 786); Donegal (Kris Trimby, 975, and Dylan Maxwell, 845); Bermudian Springs (Zach Stroup, 919, and Tristan Sponseller, 700); Pottsgrove (Mark Dukes, 875, and Tori Hudgins (806); Cocalico (Spencer Moser, 864, and Nick Reitenbach, 746); and Imhotep Charter (Eerin Young, 795, and David Williams, 783).
Pottsgrove, it should be noted, has produced a pair of 1,000-yard rushers each year since 2008, and if Dukes and Hudgins each reach four-figures, would make it five straight years, the longest active streak in the state. Bermudian’s Stroup and Sponseller, should they reach the accomplishment, would make it three consecutive years with a pair of 1,000-yard rushers for the Eagles.
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History was made in District 2 Friday night when Holy Redeemer junior quarterback Jimmy Strickland passed for 481 yards, establishing a new District 2 single-game record for passing yards. The previous high water mark for pass yards in a game, 474, had been set just a few weeks prior by Riverside’s Nick Dranchak. Strickland, who has thrown for more than 1,770 yards for HR this season (and for more than 2,300 yards in his career), sits perched with the No. 5-best passing output in a single game in state history.
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Conrad Weiser ran on “Cruz” control this past weekend as senior running back Angel Cruz posted a new school single-game rushing record. Cruz’ 375 yards and five touchdowns paced the Scouts to victory, 32-13, over Muhlenberg. Cruz has rushed for 1,243 yards on 177 carries, caught nine passes for 198 yards and scored 20 total touchdowns for Weiser (7-1).
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The Bloomsburg Panthers’ last three quarterbacks – Tyler Coombe, Blake Rankin and current junior Ricky Klingerman, have combined to throw for a whopping 13,714 yards since the start of the 2004 season. Both Coombe and Rankin threw for more than 5,000 yards each in their careers for the Panthers, and Klingerman, through eight varsity starts, has 1,851 yards to his credit.
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Isaiah Rapp’s pair of touchdown passes Friday surpassed Selinsgrove’s seven-game total for touchdown passes (1). Rapp is a sophomore and has thrown for more than 220 yards since assuming the reins to the helm of Selinsgrove’s offense in Week 5.
Also, another note for the Seals involves junior Curtis Banasiak – he had tallied 28 tackles, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries defensively. Friday, he returned two fumble recoveries for touchdowns, spanning 75 and 24 yards. Those two touchdowns Friday were the first Banasiak has scored in his Seals’ career.
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Last year, the Pennsylvania Sportswriters’ All-State football team in Class AA didn’t feature a kicker. But it would be hard to overlook Tamaqua’s Dustin Vandermartin for postseason honors in 2012. Through eight games, Vandermartin has booted 47 of his 53 kickoffs for touchbacks (88.7 percent) to go along with 13 PATs.
Vandermartin also has made his presence known offensively – in 11 total offensive touches (eight receptions, three rushes), the Blue Raider junior has 324 total yards from scrimmage, averages 20 yards per carry and 33 yards per reception and has scored seven touchdowns.
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Roman Catholic senior field general Michael Keir surpassed the 4,000-yard mark in passing for his career Friday in a 28-14 loss to LaSalle College High School. Keir, who has thrown for more than 1,300 yards in his senior season, is up to 4,055 yards and 33 touchdowns for the Cahillites.
Follow Josh Funk on Twitter @Funk_pafb.
2 responses to “EasternPAFootball.com Notebook: 1,000-yard backfield duos; history in District 2; Roman Catholic QB hits milestone”
Berm,
2010, ’11, and ’12 (if it happens)…..would make it three consecutive years for the Eagles with a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. Had already taken into account those two previous seasons.
Bermudian Springs has had two 1,000 runningbacks for the past two years.