ANDERSON — There’s been a move in college and professional football to offensive schemes that are more wide open and rely more on the passing game or on misdirection.
Systems like the spread-option or the Wildcat offense put an emphasis on speed and confusing the defense.
With those schemes, there’s not much call for a fullback.
In those offenses, there’s no need, supposedly, for a lead back to block a linebacker and clear the way for the halfback or take a quick handoff up the gut to get a first down in a short-yardage situation.
After all, the last fullback of any note in the NFL was Mike Alstott of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Highland head football coach Randy Albano believes that rumors of the demise of the fullback are greatly exaggerated and that Scots senior Jordan Segner is benefitting from that faith and paying dividends for the 5-3 Scots.
Last week at Connersville, the forecast had rain and more rain falling on the Scots and Spartans. The slick field negated the Scots’ team speed on the edges of the field, so Albano made a decision to simplify the offense.
“The field was a mud-mess. We kept it simple and ran the ball right up the middle,” said Albano. “(Segner) ran the ball over 20 times and normally he only gets eight to 10 carries a game.”
The steady diet of handoffs to the three-year starter at fullback led to 21 carries for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Segner’s two scores came on a 1-yard dive play and on a 38-yard romp up the middle of a water-logged field.
A muddy field, rain coming down keeping the ball on the ground and running up the middle sounds like a dream night for a short-yardage runner, right?
“Pretty much, that’s the games I love; hard-nosed,” said Segner. “(The rain) makes it harder to tackle me, you get slick. And it’s straight up-field, you can’t make too many cuts on a muddy field.”
Segner checks in at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds. The senior made the most of his time in the Highland weight room and with the squat exercise to strengthen his legs.
“That’s something that has helped out,” said Segner. “I knew my leg strength would be big, I’m up around 450 (pounds on the squat) right now.”
“He’s got very strong legs,” said Albano. “It’s hard to bring him down when he’s fully healthy. Last year against Jay County, he had three guys hit him and they all bounced off and he went 60 yards for a touchdown.”
Segener describes his running style as a combination of physics and will.
“I think what it is, is that I run low, I keep my center of gravity until I go down,” said Segner. “And I don’t accept that I’m being tackled. I just keep running until I’m on the ground.”
The Scots wrapped up another Olympic Athletic Conference championship by virtue of their 33-7 win last week at Connersville. The regular season wraps up Friday with a home game against Pendleton Heights before the sectional begins with Greenfield-Central visiting Highland Stadium.
“It’s been a good season,” said Segner. “I feel like I’ve done my part so far. We’re just getting ready for Pendleton Heights and then we can’t wait for sectionals.”
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