Kaleb Clark has erupted onto the scene this season.
A junior, the running back has been the top weapon for a Nicholas County team that’s heading back to the postseason after a year off. He’s rushed for nearly 1,300 yards this season, putting on one of his best performances Friday.
Hosting Class A No. 7 James Monroe, Clark erupted for 221 yards rushing on 29 carries, scoring two touchdowns.
For his efforts, Clark has been named the Week 10 Lootpress Players of the Week by the Lootpress sportswriters. The award is sponsored by Bodyworks and the Law Offices of Brandon Steele.
The breakout campaign hasn’t surprised veteran head coach Gene Morris. Quite the opposite.
“I don’t know if I’d use the word surprise because it was always there,” Morris said. “Him getting the opportunity was what mattered. I knew once he had worked himself into the position to be the featured back he’d get that opportunity. The guys up front, I’m big on them too. They’ve done a whale of a job and he has made them right so many times with his cuts and his ability to see the field. That’s the thing that’s been surprising – his ability to cut. He’s been more of a straight ahead, power type runner before and now he’s matured to the point he can see the field and make those cuts. That’s the surprising part. He can make somebody miss and do his damage from there.
“I thought last year we thought Kaleb would probably be the guy. The word probably was there but his work in the offseason – he really did a lot to get himself ready for the season. We felt that he had that ability and now he’s proven it.”
As Morris noted, Clark’s shown some abilities that have been a surprise, but they always expected him to be a workhorse type of back. He’s delivered, averaging over 20 carries per game and serving as the foundation for what the Grizzlies like to do on offense.
Morris credits that to his drive and mental makeup.
“I think it’s mental,” Morris said. “He wants the ball. He’s the guy that if it’s third-and-2 he wants the ball. It doesn’t matter to him how many times he carries it. He wants the ball and those guys up front want him to have the ball. It’s great team chemistry. He gets his rest a little on defense and we don’t play him much on special teams s he get’s a little bit of a break there but he’s been a workhorse back there. Colton Browning is a sophomore that’s carried the ball a few times to give him a little bit of a break but he’s our guy. He wants it and he’s enjoying the challenge and he really has stepped up.
“It goes right back to him getting himself ready physically and mentally before the season. He wants the ball and that’s the key to it. He doesn’t want to shy away from anything and whether it’s late in the game or early in it he wants it to help this team win and he’s such an unselfish player. He has great chemistry with those guys up front and would be the first to let you know that without them his job would be a lot more difficult.”
Clark will be honored at the Fall Lootpress Sports Banquet on Dec. 11 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.
Email: tylerjackson@lootpress.com and follow on Twitter @tjack94
