ST. PAUL, Neb. (KSNB) - After dropping the first game of the season to the Class C-1 defending state runner-up, St. Paul enters the state playoffs winners of eight straight. A big part of that success has to do with this week’s Five Star Performer.
Senior running back Eli Larson joined a very special group this past Friday. In the team’s final regular season game, he racked up 137 yards on seven carries. Really just another Friday for number 35.
But it also made him the 52nd player in state history to surpass 5,000 career rushing yards.
“It was just so exciting to be the first in St. Paul history - my name goes down in history for being that first guy," Larson said. "It really reflects on my team, they’ve been there with me every step of the way. My line has been insane.”
All but 199 of those yards have come in the past three seasons, where he has rushed for over 100 yards in 27 of the wildcats' 32 games.
“Eli has been a three-year captain for us. Obviously he’s a real good football player but more importantly he’s a good leader,” St. Paul Head Coach Rusty Fuller said.
Larson has been carving up opposing defenses with his deadly combination of speed, quickness and physicality.
“Once he gets that first hit on him, he’s breaking tackles,” Fuller said. "He’s hard to bring down - it takes more than one guy and they gotta make sure they go low on him, otherwise he’s going to break through it.
It’s not just offense with Larson. Defensively he’s just as good, if not better.
“I like the defense a little bit more," Larson said. "I get to show off not only my speed, but how hard i can hit too.”
The senior has attracted a lot of attention and offers from division two schools to play linebacker at the next level, and received a preferred walk on from division one University of South Dakota.
That has been it for division one schools though, and the fact that those coaches aren’t lining up with offers has Fuller scratching his head.
“I was on the phone with North Dakota State today talking about Eli. I told them ‘I don’t understand why you’re not pulling the trigger, or why any division one isn’t, just because he’s 6’ and not 6′3”', and i kind of hear the same thing from every division one coach," Fuller said. “But the thing about Eli is that when you turn on the film, he stands out - and he stands out like a sore thumb. In my opinion he might be the best linebacker in the state regardless of class.”
Larson said he believes height shouldn’t matter, it’s all about heart, and wherever he goes he will work as hard as possible.
Before we jump to college though, he still has one thing he wants to check off his list.
“We want to end in Lincoln. We want to take the playoffs one step at a time like we’re supposed to do, week by week, and stay healthy and end up at memorial stadium,” Larson said.
Larson currently has the 45th most rushing yards in state history. He will look to continue to move up that list when the #3 Wildcats open the Class C-1 State Playoffs at home Friday against #14 Cozad.
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