Southeastern Pennsylvania football Top 10
1.
LaSalle College (Wyndmoor) (8-1: Weeks rated: 9. Last Week: 1.)
2.
Ridley (Folsom) (9-0: Weeks rated: 9. Last Week: 2.)
3.
Archbishop Wood (Warminster) (9-0: Weeks rated: 9. Last Week: 3.)
4.
North Penn (Lansdale) (8-1: Weeks rated: 9. Last Week: 4.)
5.
Downingtown East (Exton) (8-1: Weeks rated: 2. Last Week: 10.)
6.
Cardinal O'Hara (Springfield) (8-1: Weeks rated: 8. Last Week: 5.)
7.
West Catholic (Philadelphia) (7-2: Weeks rated: 9. Last Week: 8.)
8.
Owen J. Roberts (Pottstown) (7-2: Weeks rated: 1. Last Week: Unrated.)
9.
Abington (7-2: Weeks rated: 1. Last Week: Unrated.)
10.
Council Rock South (Holland) (8-1: Weeks rated: 6. Last Week. 6.)
Each carry now comes with a tacit statement. It comes with a lowered shoulder, and the bolt of a battering ram through anyone in his way. It's not just speed that
Ryan Brumfield is using to set ablaze the Southeastern Pennsylvania record books. His running style his senior year has added a touch of tenacity, along with a dash of stubbornness.
Owen J. Roberts High's Ryan Brumfield.
Photo courtesy of Owen J. Roberts football
The Owen J. Roberts High 5-10, 180-pound tailback became southeastern Pennsylvania's all-time leading rusher with a 329-yard rushing performance against Pope John Paul II on Oct. 23, easily eclipsing the previous all-time SE Pennsylvania mark of 7,429, set by 2003 West Catholic graduate Curtis Brinkley, who plays for the San Diego Chargers.
Brumfield has 8,033 career yards rushing after a 285-yard, six-touchdown performance against previously undefeated Boyertown, the team the Wildcats knocked off 55-14 last Friday. His career-tying six touchdowns in the Boyertown game gives him an even 100 TDs for his career, which now averages out to 2,008 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns per season.
This year, he's rushed for 2,301 yards, averaging 9.79 yards a carry — against defenses designed to specifically stop him. More importantly, he has played big in big-time games, rushing for 310 yards and four touchdowns against Pottsgrove, and his huge performance against Boyertown.
The Wildcats sit at 7-2 overall and have clinched a berth in the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA playoffs, a classification higher than the last two years, when Owen J. Roberts was a Class AAA school. They're riding a six-game winning streak after getting off to a 1-2 start — but mostly they're riding Brumfield, who is forcing Division I colleges to take notice.
That wasn't the case back in August and September, when Brumfield was receiving tepid interest, despite his explosive speed, ability to change direction and solid grades (he carries a 3.0 GPA, and took the SAT for the first time in early October).
There's been a vengeance in Brumfield's eyes each time he's had the ball in his hands. It's almost as if Brumfield is screaming each time he runs "Here I am!"
"That's how I came into this season — that I had to make a statement; I wanted to prove something, that I have the talent and ability to play Division-I football," Brumfield said. "It was frustrating, but I think I've helped myself this season. I'll admit it, each carry does come with a little more of a vengeance. I think I gained the attention of some bigger schools. I think more attention will come."
Brumfield took an unofficial visit to Penn State last weekend, witnessing the Nittany Lions upset Michigan, while Iowa, Temple, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Boston College and Vanderbilt have picked up their interest.
But Brumfield has more football ahead. He has an outside chance at Pennsylvania's all-time rushing record of 9,027 (which is ninth all-time nationally), owned by Steelton-Highspire's Jeremiah Young (now at Bucknell). He also stands a good chance to surpass former Indianapolis Colt and Syracuse Orangeman James Mungro, who finished with 8,432 career yards rushing when he was at East Stroudsburg South High School.
What's driving Brumfield now is a chance to go deep into the district playoffs and qualify for a state-playoff berth, which would be another Owen J. Roberts first.
It couldn't be a better going-away present to this senior-laden Wildcats' team. And Brumfield knows it. He frequently uses as a lot of "we have to do this," and "we're all in this together." It's never "I." It's why Brumfield was emphatic to mention the play of the seniors that have paved the way, like left tackle Jake Manfredi, left guard Zach Glanski, center Mike Nowak, right guard Sean Maloney, right tackle Kyle Moore and tight end Robert Patrick.
It's why he mentioned the stellar play of fellow senior Sam Funk, a 6-1, 220-pound outside linebacker, wingback and fullback who has alleviated some of the offensive load on Brumfield.
"Our offensive line has been blocking well since the Spring-Ford loss," Wildcats' coach Tom Barr said. "As a staff, the way the defense was flowing to the ball, we had to deal with some counter plays. That's what the Spring-Ford loss did for us. It made us look at things differently.
"We have some new things that have worked well for us; plus Ryan is getting stronger as the year has gone on. I like where we are right now. Everything is coming together at the right time. Defensively, we're holding opponents under 162 yards of total offense. We've been consistent."
One other area that Barr felt needed cleaning up was the flying flags. Owen J. Roberts was averaging around 10 to 12 penalties a game. That's been down considerably in the last three victories over Pottsgrove, Pope John Paul II and Boyertown.
And then there's Brumfield to stop. He's been electric.
"You hate to say the word 'unstoppable,' but this is Ryan at his best," Barr said. "He likes the challenges. The more he gets challenged, the better he plays. But what you like most about Ryan is that he's a great kid. Here's a kid that has every right to have an ego, and he doesn't. He gets along with everyone. It's why his teammates don't only want to play with him — they want to play
for him."
Joseph Santoliquito can be contacted at JSantoliquito@yahoo.com.
