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High praise from the Canton Repository

Five players to watch: Massillon
Thursday, October 27, 2005 TODD PORTER
Massillon


Brian Gamble
Running back/safety
6-foot, 190 pounds
SCOUTING GAMBLE Massillon’s offense starts, and usually ends, with the powerful junior. Gamble is a two-threat back because he runs great routes out of the backfield and often will motion to a slot wide receiver position in an empty backfield. He sees the field like he’s been a RB his entire life, although he was just moved there this season. He runs with force and speed. He doesn’t often go down on the first hit and has less than a half dozen carries in which he lost yards. He attacks the defense with a defender’s mentality — probably because he plays safety, although he hits like a linebacker. He plays both ways, plus he is the long snapper and returns kicks. The coaching staff usually rotates him out of the offense.


WHAT HE MEANS Coaches don’t just devise game plans around a player such as Gamble, but entire seasons are built around him. That is what Massillon has done. He lifts his team and fans. There is an energy when he finishes a run by bowling over a defender. He has a great attitude and isn’t selfish. Massillon doesn’t win Saturday without Gamble having a good game.