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Add commentOK Conference Top Running Backs Through Four Weeks
We're approaching October, which means the high school football regular season is almost halfway over. At the near midpoint, several running backs across the area have separated themselves with their performances. Below are ten backs who have excelled on the field week in and week out through the first month of the season.
Cole DiPiazza, Allendale 2022”
Cole has been one of the more consistent backs in the area for quite some time now and his production continues to carry on into his senior season at Allendale. In a week two 14-0 win over Hopkins, Cole rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns, further showing he can carry his team when called upon. The Falcons are currently sitting at 2-2 on the year and will need more big games from Cole if they hope to qualify for the playoffs in what appears to be the most competitive conference this season in the OK Blue.
Tyler DeWitt, Comstock Park 2022”
Comstock Park is 4-0 for the first time since 2017 and much of the credit goes to the dynamic backfield of quarterback Jackson Gates and running back Tyler DeWitt. Tyler has seemingly cruised so far this season, racking up 684 yards and 10 total touchdowns in just four games. The Panthers appear to be on the path to an OK Silver title with a huge date with undefeated Belding looming in week six.
Tim Kloska, West Catholic 2023”
If anyone remembers EA Sports’ NCAA Football 06’, there was a “Race for The Heisman” mode where you could create a player, sign with a school, and put up ungodly stats in hopes of flashing the pose at seasons end. That being said, I don’t think my create-a-player was putting up Timmy Kloska numbers through a month’s worth of games. The junior back has 1150 yards and 17 touchdowns in just four games. Every week he has decimated defenses with his physicality and overall refusal to go down and seems hellbent on carrying the Falcons through a loaded OK Blue conference schedule.
Antwaun Nicholls, Cedar Springs 2023”
Antwauan has been the main driving force in the Red Hawk’s rushing attack, leading Cedar Springs with 450+ yards and eight touchdowns thus far. He has a good mix of speed and strength that makes him hard to bring down in the backfield. Cedar Springs currently sits at 3-1 and will be favored in it’s next three games before back-to-backs with South Christian and Catholic Central to end the regular season.
Dahmir Farnum, Mona Shores 2023”
Dahmir is one of the hardest backs to bring down in the area, thanks in large part to his 5’9, 200 lb frame. He has the quickness to make his man miss and the strength to rack up yards after contact. Dahmir has also shown he doesn’t need many touches to make an impact. In week three, Dahmir racked up 132 yards on just seven carries. Mona Shores will need that type of efficient production from Dahmir if they hope to make another deep run in the state playoffs.
Keymarion Gibson, Ottawa Hills 2023”
The Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills football program has turned a corner in the right direction thanks to players like quarterback Shcarai Horton and running back Keymarion Gibson. Kaymarion willed the Bengals to a 28-20 overtime win over Wayland last week thanks to Keymarion’s 146 yards and three touchdown performance. With games like that, Ottawa Hills can be in the mix in the OK Gold.
Dylan Merlo, Coopersville 2023”
Dylan has been mentioned among the area’s biggest playmakers on a nearly weekly basis and is a big reason why Coopersville is a perfect 4-0. In the Broncos’ week three 29-22 win over Fruitport, Dylan rushed for 167 yards and came down with three interceptions on the defensive end. The Broncos will look for Dylan to keep his production at a high level as their schedule turns brutal in two weeks with three straight games against currently undefeated teams in West Catholic, Spring Lake, and Unity Christian.
Brody Johnson, Reeths-Puffer 2024”
Another program that appears to be trending in the right direction is Muskegon Reeths-Puffer. The Rockets have the luxury of a dynamic sophomore who is playing well above his years in Brody Johnson. Brody had a breakout game in a week three win over Wyoming when he rushed for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Keep an eye out for this dynamic sophomore as he and the Rockets will try to make a push for the playoffs.
It didn’t take long for Muskegon’s promising sophomore to announce himself to the greater West Michigan region. In the Big Reds’ week one thrashing of East Kentwood, Jakob Price unleashed a 168 yards and two touchdown performance on just five carries. He has explosive speed that leaves defenders in the dust whenever he gets outside the tackle box. It looks like the Big Reds will be just fine for the foreseeable future as long as talents such as Jakob is occupying the backfield.
Brady White, Zeeland East 2024”
The Chix have one of the deepest backfields in the area, and sophomore Brady White has taken advantage of his touches and proved to be a reliant piece of the Zeeland East puzzle. Brady’s most impressive game thus far was in a win over Holland. The sophomore tallied 225 yards and four touchdowns in the win and offered a glimpse of what the Chix will have in the backfield for years to come.