Any day you can elevate your name above
Derrick Henry is a great one.
Baker (Fla.) junior running back
Kayleb Wagner did just that Friday night by rushing for a Florida state high school single-game record 535 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-48 victory over South Walton.
Wagner has already done his share of elevating.
According to the
Northwest Florida Daily News, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound three-sport standout rushed for a game-tying 91-yard touchdown, then the eventual game-winning 68-yard score en route to breaking the state mark of 502 set in 2012 by Henry of Yulee (Fla.).
Henry carried the ball 45 times to set the previous mark. Wagner, who opened the scoring with an 83-yard TD run (see all his highlights in video above), needed 25 carries.
Friday's record-breaking performance will shine more light on Wagner, who was born without a left hand. He was a
2020-21 recipient
of the Roger Dearing Spirit of Sport Award, presented by the Florida
High School
Athletic Association for individuals who "exemplify the ideals of the
positive heart of the arts that represent the core mission of
education-based activities."
Wagner opened the season Sept. 10 with a 267-yard, four-touchdown performance in a
49-13 win over Rocky Bayou Christian — remarkable
because he carried the ball four times for a nifty 66.8 yard
average.
The early success of Wagner in 2021 is no fluke. He rushed for 1,403 yards and 18 touchdowns as a
sophomore, including 152 yards and a score in the FHSAA 1A title game, a 27-14 victory over Hawthorne
lifting the Gators (15-0) to their fifth state crown but first in 27 years.
Wagner's accomplishments carry well beyond the gridiron. He's also a starting guard on the basketball team, a sprinter on the track and field team and maintains a 3.6 grade point average.
Friday's elevation to the top of the Florida single-game rushing list is also impressive considering the list of great running backs from the Sunshine State. They include Emmitt Smith of
Escambia (Pensacola), Frank Gore of
Coral Gables, Travis Henry of
Frostproof, Dalvin Cook of
Central (Miami), Fred Taylor of
Glades Central (Belle Glade), Edgerrin James of
Immokalee and of course Derrick Henry, the 2000 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Kayleb Wagner, Baker
File photo by Matthew Christopher
