[Buckskin86]

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pb...410300414/1006

Ford, Sailors in high gear

BY ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT

PALMETTO -- The Palmetto High defense got steam-rolled by a Ford.

That is Mike Ford, as in the Sarasota High running back who ran his way into the Florida football history books in the Sailors' 42-21 victory over Palmetto on Friday night at Harllee Stadium.

The senior ran for 250 yards on 36 carries to become only the third in Florida history to run for more than 200 yards in seven straight games.

Ford tied Iverson Williams of Fort Pierce John Carroll, whose seven straight 200-plus games came during the 1966-67 seasons. If Ford gets 200 next week, the only person standing in front of him will be Travis Henry, who now plays for the Buffalo Bills. Henry had 14 straight games of 200-plus rushing yards when he played at Frostproof..

Palmetto (5-3) must have thought when Henry Ford built the Model-T at the turn of the century, he had Mike Ford in mind.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder looked like the "model back." His motor never stopped running as he scored five touchdowns. A sixth, which would have gone for 60 yards, was called back because of a holding penalty. He broke tackles and used his acceleration skills to outrun defenders when he broke into the open.

"I can't do it without a line. Somebody brought it (the record) up to me, but I couldn't look at it that way. I had to think of this as a normal game," Ford said. "My offensive line really helped me out. I couldn't do it without them. I was a little tired at the end, but I felt like I could've run for two more quarters."