Olito Thompson was a promising sophomore outside linebacker last season for
Concord (Concord, Calif.), which won a North Coast Section Division II title thanks largely to a pass-happy, no-huddle, spread attack.
This season, the fleet 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior is the state's leading rusher.
Say what?
Olito Thompson was a rangy
linebacker as a sophomore.
This season, he stretches defenses.
Photo by Dennis Lee
Did Thompson transfer schools?
No.
Did the coach move on?
Nope.
Did Concord - about a 10-minute drive from national power De La Salle - get an influx of behemoth offensive linemen?
Hardly. Thompson weighs just five pounds less than Concord's largest interior lineman.
So how in the world did this all happen?
In a word, flexibility.
"We don't like to pigeon hole," Concord head coach Brian Hamilton said. "We try to fit best with the pieces we have."
In an age of pinball scores and numbers throughout the land, what Hamilton and his Minutemen have pulled off the last two seasons is uncharted territory.
Last season, The San Francisco Chronicle's Metro Player of the Year and current Southern Mississippi quarterback Ricky Lloyd threw for then Northern California records of 301 completions and 4,451 yards to go along with 52 touchdowns.
On Friday, Thompson rushed for a Bay Area-record 457 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-16 NCS quarterfinal win over Las Lomas-Walnut Creek. He now leads the state with 2,928 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns in 12 games.
The week before in a first-round game, Thompson rushed for 370 yards, giving him 827 yards in two playoff games. That's not a bad season for most.
Prolific offenses usually highlight passers or rushers. Not both.
Concord will take it's now high-powered, no-huddle rushing attack into a NCS semifinal game at
Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park, Calif.), the team it beat in last year's NCS finals at the Oakland Coliseum 40-37.
"To be honestly, I'm very proud of what we've done," Hamilton said. "In Olito's case, he trusts his coaches. We could see he had a good running style. He has a lot of natural gifts. But he works at them. He wants to know the next thing to learn. You tell him something once and he gets it."
With receiver
Terrence Young (67 catches, nine touchdowns last year) and capable backup quarterback
Jacob Daynes, returning, Concord figured to fling it early and often in 2011.
But when Daynes hurt his throwing hand six minutes into the season, Concord adjusted and Thompson came to the rescue.
While sophomore QB
Wyatt Morrow (1,344 yards, 15 TDs) has filled in admirably, Thompson has carried the load with nine games more than 200 yards and three of those were more than 300.
That small but experienced line has improved and adjusted each week.
"When he hits the hole hard, he's gone," Hamilton said. "He's very decisive."
Last week, against a 10-1 Las Lomas squad, Thompson hit it hard on the second carry and went 77 yards for a touchdown. He also had TD runs of 47, 80 and 91 yards.
"He just needs one carry to see the defense and figure things out," Hamilton said.
Asked what kind of teammate Thompson is, Hamitlon said. "He's become a really good teammate. He's always smiling and joking. He works hard. He's always positive. He encourages the receivers, the quarterback the defense. He learned that from Ricky last year."
What's most amazing about the numbers from Lloyd and Thompson the last two seasons is Concord's lack of numbers.
The Minutemen sport just 25 players on their roster so they must remain healthy and fit. There's no rest for the weary in the team's no-huddle, no punt, no PAT attack.
Hamilton credits his dedicated staff for keeping the players in shape, on time and cohessive.
Those coaches are: John Bell (offensive coordinator), Angelo Mitchell (running backs), Mike Griggs (wide receiver), Tom Sparks and Gil Bates, along with defensive coordinator Randy Coddington.
John Koven is Concord's strength and conditioning coach.
"We're all one unit," Hamilton said. "We couldn't get this all done with every one of those guys."
Thompson agrees.
He's quick to credit teammates and coaches for all his success. With another season remaining, he should be one of East Bay's top recruits from the Class of 2013.
"He's got all the tools," Hamilton said.
