The 1998 first-round pick of the Bears has small Ohio school threatening record books — and history.
With a strong emphasis on the running game, former Penn State and NFL running back Curtis Enis has transformed the Bradford program.
Photo by Don Selanders
Before becoming an All-Big Ten running back at Penn State and a first-round NFL draft choice, Curtis Enis compiled one of the greatest careers in Ohio high school history.
In 1993, his senior year at rural
Mississinawa Valley (Union City, Ohio), Enis set the OHSAA single-season rushing record with 2,765 yards. Since then his mark has been broken 14 times.
But Enis, 38, may yet have the last laugh.
Nineteen years after his assault on the record books, the former Chicago Bear is at it again. Only this time it's not Enis' legs that are churning out the numbers.
The current head coach at
Bradford (Ohio), Enis has employed a hard-nosed approach that's revitalized the school's program — and produced a punishing ground game.
Enis looks to lead Bradford to its first winning season in 15 years.
Photo by Don Selanders
In the eight years prior to Enis' arrival, Bradford went 17-53. Since he took the reins in 2010, the Railroaders are 13-11.
They opened this season 3-0 for the first time since 1983 and are aiming for their first winning season since 1997.
"6-4 (in 1997)…I believe coach?," Bradford athletic director Dusty Yingst questioned Enis before a recent practice. "Of course, I was in elementary school then."
It's been a while.
But Bradford's been close. The last two years, Enis-led teams have finished 5-5.
"We want to stay committed to what we want to accomplish," Enis said. "I tell the kids there's three things we can't control: people, time and weather. What we can control is our commitment to this game."
This year's Bradford team is all-in — especially its senior class, which was undefeated in peewee and junior high. The players and the Bradford community have waited four long years for this season to arrive.
‘The core of (the senior class) has stuck together and believed in the process," said Enis, who served as a volunteer assistant four years ago. "These kids love the game. It's fun to coach kids that love the game."
Said Yingst: "It's one of those (senior) classes everyone puts expectations and hype on."
Bradford has 10 seniors. The most visible is James Canan.
Canan, just like his coach before him, is looking to break the state rushing record.
Photo by Don Selanders
A senior running back, Canan has established himself as a legitimate threat to break the record once held by his coach — Ohio's single-season rushing mark.
Through this season's first three games, Canan had rushed for 983 yards and 15 touchdowns on 84 carries. In a Week 3 win at Nation Trail (New Paris, Ohio), Canan ran for 455 yards and seven TDs on 33 carries. That total doesn't include a 70-yard TD that was called back due to holding. Canan's 455 yards rank No. 10 on Ohio's all-time single-game list, while his seven TDs fall one short of tying the state record.
Outside of football Canan is an accomplished MMA fighter. Before this season he opted for an old-school face mask (single-cross) to honor former NFL back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward.
"I‘ll talk about James as a leader," said Enis, who won't allow his players to talk to the media. "He's earned the respect of his teammates."
After three games, Canan was averaging 328 yards per game. After a Week 4 loss and 138-yard performance against regional and neighboring powerhouse Covington, Canan's average dropped to just 280 yards.
Should the Railroaders make the playoffs, an extended run could put Canan close to the OHSAA single-season record of 3,472 yards set by Ross Franklin of
Johnstown-Monroe (Johnstown, Ohio) just last year.
The playoffs, however, are somewhat foreign territory for Bradford.
The Railroaders have reached Ohio's postseason just once — back in 1982. A second trip would be something to celebrate.
"(The playoffs) are out of our control," Enis said. "There's teams that go 10-0 and don't make the playoffs. I was on a 9-1 team that didn't go. We can't worry about that.
"What I'm ecstatic about is the opportunity to coach kids like the ones I have because they're fighting, kicking and scratching and that's the way life is. Nobody is handing Bradford boys anything — they're going to work for it. It's a slow process but we're committed to it."
…and the run.
Eric Frantz is the Managing Editor of JJHuddle.com and can be reached at efrantz@jjhuddle.com.
