FEAT OF THE WEEK : Marked Tree back rolls up 474 yards
Posted on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Gray means go for Marked Tree.
Senior running back Michael Gray earned the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Feat of the Week by rushing 37 times for a school-record 474 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 43-40 victory over Augusta on Friday night at Don Lovell Memorial Field in Marked Tree.
Gray eclipsed the previous school record of 427 yards by Anquion Williams against Walnut Ridge in 2002.
Gray, who rushed for more than 1, 000 yards as a junior, had played only a half in two previous games this season because of cramps and a runaway score, Marked Tree Coach Tim Branum said.
“I don’t ever go into a game thinking a kid is going to rush for that kind of yardage,” said Branum, who has coached the Class 2 A Indians since 2001. “Even when the game was over, I knew he had a bunch, but I don’t know if I would have guessed that many.
“ I don’t guess you ever plan for something like that, especially against a good team. Augusta is a good team.”
Gray scored on a 50-yard run with 5: 07 remaining in the first half, a 65-yard run on the first play of the second half, a 14-yard run with 3: 54 remaining in the third quarter and a 49-yard run with 1: 28 left in the third quarter.
Branum said Gray, 5-10, 170 pounds, is used at halfback and tailback and had most of his success against Augusta on offtackle plays.
“He doesn’t have blazing speed,” Branum said. “He’s just got those intangible kind of things. He’s a tough inside runner. He can make you miss. He can run over you. He can get the corner on you sometimes. “ He’s just got a knack for running the football.” Gray also had an important defensive play at linebacker, recovering a fumble deep in Marked Tree territory to stop Augusta’s final threat with 1: 19 remaining in the game. Gray also had a reception of about 30 yards, Branum said, and rarely comes off the field.
“When you’ve got 21 kids, there’s several of them in that boat,” Branum said. Michael Gray RB, Sr., Marked Tree RUSHES 37 YARDS 474 TOUCHDOWNS 4
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