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http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjourna...ol/9727967.htm

Posted on Wed, Sep. 22, 2004
Stacked defenses don't bother Hoban senior

Sutton is on pace to shatter state rushing record, capture annual award given to Ohio's top player

By David Lee Morgan Jr.

Beacon Journal staff writer

Imagine you're Hoban senior running back Tyrell Sutton.

You're one of the best running backs in Ohio, and each week, the opposing defense devises a game plan specifically to stop you.

If you're Sutton, you welcome the challenge, then show what you can do.

So far this season, opposing teams haven't figured out how to stop Sutton. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound dynamo has rushed for 1,043 yards on 107 carries and 13 touchdowns in four games. He's averaging 9.7 yards every time he takes a handoff for the 4-0 Knights.

Want even more staggering numbers? He has 7,240 yards in his high school career and is on pace to surpass the state rushing record of 8,216 yards set by Williamsburg's Jason Bainum, who played from 1998-2001.

``I know teams are coming at me,'' said Sutton, a Northwestern recruit. ``I know they are going to put eight or nine players in the box and that really doesn't faze me too much because I've been seeing it the last three years.''

So just what is the game plan when it comes to defending Sutton?

``We went into our game knowing that he is a great back and that he was going to get his yards,'' said Garfield coach Bob Sax, whose Rams lost to Hoban 13-7 in Week 1. ``Last year, we held Sutton to under 200 yards and this year we were hoping for the same. We just tried to get eight guys in the box to limit his big runs.''

Sutton finished with 263 yards on 31 carries against Garfield, and his 47-yard touchdown run in the final seconds of the first half proved to be the game-winner.

``This is probably the best line I've had personally at Hoban,'' Sutton said. ``They aren't that big but they stay on their blocks.''

Senior tackle Shawn Glaser, a 6-8, 305-pound mountain of a young man, is one of the leaders up front who paves the way for Sutton.

``We were watching film one day and there were plays when Tyrell would go 12 yards before anyone would even get a finger on him,'' said Glaser, a top Division I recruit. ``We are staying on our blocks a lot better. It's just fundamental football and that's what the coaches have been teaching us.''

Glaser said watching Sutton pile up yards is gratifying.

``Especially, when you're coming off a pancake block and you put one knee on the ground, you go to get up and you see the official's arms go up for a touchdown,'' Glaser said. ``That's a great feeling, watching Tyrell have a great game and as an offensive lineman knowing you couldn't have done your job any better.''

If Sutton continues to perform the way he has each week, he'll put himself in position to capture Mr. Football honors.

``I think without question he's a definite candidate for Mr. Football in the state of Ohio,'' Orsini said.

Sax added: ``I haven't seen some of the other guys and I know there are some good ones around here and throughout the state, but I can't imagine a guy being any better at running the football than Sutton.''