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Thursday, October 29, 1998
Schoolboy rushes 602 (552?) yards in single
game
By MICHAEL A. LUTZ AP Sports Writer
SOMERVILLE, Texas (AP) - The winners say their star running
back ran for 602 yards. The losers say it was 552 yards.
Either way, Darryl Ellis of the Class 2A Somerville Yeguas
had a heck of a game in last Friday night's 70-68 victory over
Thrall.
According to statistics gathered by Somerville coaches, Ellis
ran 48 times for 602 yards, which would be a state record and
No. 3 on the national list.
But Thrall coach Steve Merka said that after watching the game
tapes three times he's convinced Ellis ran 47 times for 552 yards,
which would still be second in state history and fifth nationally.
Everyone agrees that Ellis scored seven touchdowns on a night
where he could hardly be stopped.
"He was bouncing off us like we weren't even there,"
Merka said. "We had 10 men on the line of scrimmage, they
would run a lead play and he'd drag six people for eight yards.
"There's not more you can do about it unless you put another
five guys on the field, and the officials aren't going to let
you do that."
The huge outburst resulted from several circumstances: an above-average
player going against an undersized, undermanned opponent that
managed to keep the game close, providing Ellis with more chances
to run.
Another factor was the poor caliber of the teams. Somerville
improved to 2-6 and matched its win total of each of the last
three years, while Thrall (0-8) lost its 18th straight game and
27th of 28.
"He would break a tackle," said Somerville coach
Rick Dillenbeck, "and he was in the end zone."
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior had touchdowns runs of 53, 62
and 72 yards. He also had a 74-yarder called back by penalty.
"We were just scoring right off the bat," Ellis said.
"It was exciting."
Quarterback Travis Guthrie kept Thrall in the game by completing
24 of 40 passes for 510 yards and seven touchdowns. But he misfired
on a two-point conversion with seven seconds left that would've
forced overtime - and even more carries for Ellis.
Ellis came into the Thrall game with four 100-yard outings
in seven games. He had 823 yards and six touchdowns on 130 carries
after beginning the season splitting time in the backfield. Coaches
liked Ellis so much that they moved the other guy to receiver,
even though he was averaging 12 yards per carry.
Since the big game, Ellis has been getting ribbed by his friends
in this town of 1,500 located 20 miles southwest of College Station.
"Yeah, they have been getting on me a lot," he said.
"They keep saying '602! 602!' "
But is that nickname accurate?
The final word will likely come from the University Interscholastic
League, which must submit figures to the National Federation of
State High School Associations for the record books.
"If there's a discrepancy, one way to verify it is to
watch the film," said assistant athletic director Peter Contreras,
whose duties include verifying and submitting records for national
consideration.
Merka said Somerville coaches may have erroneously credited
Ellis for yards gained on plays that were nullified by penalties.
"It's 552 and I'll send the tape to anybody who wants
it," Merka said. "I've got it hard and cold."
Dillenbeck said his assistant coach who reviewed the film over
the weekend has told him he "can guarantee it was 602 yards,"
third all-time behind the 619 yards by Ronney Jenkins of Oxnard
Hueneme, Calif., on Nov. 9, 1995, and the 608 yards by John Bunch
of Elkins, Ark., on Oct. 25, 1974.
There's also a dispute over Somerville's announced team rushing
total of 737 yards, which would break by one yard the national
record set by Downey Life Christian (Calif.) against Banning Twin
Pines (Calif.) in 1992.
Merka said the figure should be 650 yards, which wouldn't be
among the top 10 nationally. Dillenbeck said he's not as confident
about that figure and is willing to recount it.
Ellis' big game overshadowed another huge performance in Texas
last Friday night.
Derick Arnold of Houston Milby set a modern-day state record
by scoring nine touchdowns and 54 points and set a Class 5A rushing
record by gaining 446 yards on 45 carries in a 62-6 victory over
Houston Sam Houston.
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