Shane Reed is running through the Class A 8-man East League (Black Forest Division) as if he’s a new BMW in a James Bond film.
In Rush, fittingly, the Miami- Yoder senior has compiled 1,496 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns in just six games.
“It’s not all me,” Reed said. “It’s mostly my line.”
Whoever it is, it works.
Reed opened with 272 yards and four touchdowns against Silver State Christian. Next he notched 295 yards — on just eight carries — and three touchdowns against Wiley. He settled for 80 yards and two scores against Hanover, but, he said, “I was feeling pretty sick.”
Reed must have made Colorado D&B, Flagler and Pikes Peak Christian ill with, in order, 282, 295 and 272 yards and a combined eight touchdowns — four against Pikes Peak Christian.
A year ago, Reed, now 5-feet-7 and 175 pounds, played guard.
“That’s how smart I am,” said Miami-Yoder coach Don McGatlin, the former longtime Green Mountain leader.
While the Buffaloes (6-0) have yet to face one of 8-man’s heavyweights, Reed’s totals are enhanced by his superiority in changing direction.
“It’s like he cuts in the air,” a bewildered McGatlin said. “For a while there, he was scoring on every third play.”
Reed, a former ice hockey player from Red Lake Falls, Minn., is an aspiring attorney. He has a 3.7 grade-point average and is in his second year of criminal justice courses at Pikes Peak Community College. Reed said his ice time “has helped with my agility and being able to take hits.”
Why is getting drilled into the boards or dropped at center ice different from being stuffed at the line of scrimmage or laid out on the sideline?
“I enjoy 8-man,” said Reed, who leads Colorado in rushing and hopes to play college ball. “It’s fast-paced, the hits are a lot harder, and you can work more on speed and agility.”
Said McGatlin: “I’ve coached a long time. This kid can play.”
Injury report.
It keeps growing, including to Class 5A’s upper end — speedy Chatfield quarterback Sam Stratton is out for the season.
The Wyoming recruit, after a sideline play this past week against Pomona, sustained ACL and MCL damage in his right knee. Next up: surgery.
In addition, teammate Kyle Slavin, a two-way end, sprained an MCL and is out this weekend.
Footnotes.
When Class 4A Durango handled 5A Fruita Monument 27-0, it was the Demons’ first victory over the Wildcats in 12 years. They are 6-0 after going 0-10 in 2008. . . . Akron was 0-for-5 passing with two interceptions last week. No problem. The Rams won their 45th game in succession, 33-6 over Highland, on 53 rushes for 379 yards. . . . Idalia has a player named Trewett Furnish.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
