[Buckskin86]

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjourna...l/10338232.htm

Posted on Sat, Dec. 04, 2004
Football/Canton McKinley
McKinley back eyes final goal
Winning title all that is left for Brinson to achieve on the field
By Casey Moore
Beacon Journal staff writer

The talk of area high school football all season has been Hoban running back Tyrell Sutton.

And why not? Sutton finished his high school career with 9,438 yards and 115 touchdowns.

Record-breaking Canton McKinley running back Ryan Brinson pays that no mind, because he can still win a state championship.

Brinson's numbers might not match Sutton's, but the Division I Co-Offensive Player of the Year has possesses some remarkable numbers.

He is the all-time leading rusher at Canton McKinley with more than 4,000 yards and is the school's all-time leading scorer, a product of his versatility on defense and special teams in addition to running back.

Brinson also holds the school's single-season rushing record with 2,320 yards (and counting) and owns the top two single-game rushing marks with 330 in the Bulldogs' first-round playoff game this year, and another game of 297 as a sophomore.

``He's a special kind of player,'' second-year McKinley coach Brian Cross said. ``He has been an instrumental part of the turnaround of this program. He makes everybody else around him play a little bit better, just by his play alone, because they want to step up and be a part of everything.''

Even Brinson is impressed with what he has done.

``I didn't think I would make an impact like this,'' Brinson said. ``I finally sat down and thought about a lot of the stuff that I've accomplished, the records and what-not and I'm just thankful that I was given the ability to be able to go out there and play.''

Brinson hopes to add another accomplishment to that list today when the Bulldogs face undefeated Cincinnati Colerain in the Division I state championship game at Fawcett Stadium.

``This will be my last football game wearing a McKinley Bulldog uniform, so I'm going to go out and play harder than I've ever played,'' Brinson said.

Regardless of the outcome, Brinson's next step is deciding where he's going to go to school next year.

And finally, Massillon isn't an option.

Brinson gave McKinley faithful quite a scare after his sophomore season when rumors circulated that he might transfer.

``I always knew I was going to be a Bulldog, even though everyone was trying to say I was going to Massillon,'' Brinson said.

Because most of his mother's side of the family lived in nearby Massillon, there was plenty of talk that the Bulldogs' best up-and-coming athlete was headed for Tigertown.

``I just laughed about it and kept coming to football practice at McKinley,'' Brinson said. ``This is home, this is where I'm planted. I think people finally realize that now that I have one game left.''

Brinson has yet to orally commit to a college, but says the front-runners include Wisconsin, West Virginia and Iowa, which he will visit in two weeks.

``I'm basically weighing my options and making sure I keep my senior year in the classroom together,'' Brinson said. ``I just want to go take all my visits and just see what all the facilities are like, see what the coaching staff is like at all the schools. Before signing day (in February), I'll make my decision.''
Then it will be on to the loftier goals.

``Maybe win the Heisman (Trophy),'' Brinson said with a grin.