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‘Heart for the game’: How the run game has carried Nokomis football to 4-0 start

NOKOMIS — Nolan Herpstreith venerates former NFL star running backs Marshawn Lynch and Barry Sanders.

The Nokomis junior running back is a challenge to bring down in his own right and has averaged 139.3 rushing yards per game in a 4-0 start in the Lincoln Prairie Conference.

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He lately summoned 150 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries in a 55-7 Week 4 win over Cerro Gordo-Bement after amassing 190 yards and two scores on just 12 touches in a 62-13 win over Villa Grove.

“He’s just hard to get down,” NHS coach Paul Watson said.

Nokomis High School’s Nolan Herpstreith runs with the ball during a drill at football practice Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.

He is just part of a prolific junior class that also includes fellow teammates Daryl Evans and Kadynn Petty. Evans has twice rushed for over 100 yards himself to begin the season, including 175 yards and one TD on 15 attempts in a 27-10 season-opening win over Arcola.

Petty, meanwhile, has been appearing as both a quarterback and slot receiver.

“I think a lot of us just have a heart for the game,” Herpstreith said. “We’ve been doing this together since probably fifth grade — a lot of ups and downs, but it’s been real fun.”

Nokomis High School’s Daryl Evans during a drill at football practice Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.

A healthy number of juniors have started since freshman year, including Herpstreith defensively. He ended up getting some touches toward the end of his freshman season due to injuries before assuming the lead role offensively the following year.

Herpstreith finished with 1,621 rushing yards and 20 TDs last fall and Nokomis reached the playoffs before bowing to Greenfield/Northwestern in the first round, 52-13. That somber finale continues to…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/heart-game-run-game-carried-081527121.html

Author : The State Journal-Register

Publish date : 2024-09-27 08:15:27

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

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