In the era of spread offenses and running back-by-committee, Allatoona is bringing back to life the idea of a true workhorse in the backfield.
Russell Halimon, a junior, has rushed for 765 yards in three games - never seeing fewer than 38 carries in any of them. His totals have been 38 for 191 yards against East Paulding, 41 for 254 against Villa Rica and 38 for 320 against North Paulding.
"He's getting a lot of carries, maybe too many," Allatoona coach Gary Varner said. "We feel he's one of the best running backs in the state, so the yards he's getting aren't surprising in that aspect."
Halimon had a good sophomore season, rushing for more than 1,000 yards, but he was overshadowed by Joshua Bettistea, who rushed for 1,938 yards.
Bettistea is now a senior, but he has not played for undisclosed reasons. Varner said Bettistea might make his debut this week against Lithia Springs. If that happens, Halimon will get fewer touches, which is not all bad. Varner said one or the other would return punts or kicks. He has spared Halimon any work on special teams to give him a break.
"We'll split it up," Varner said. "Obviously getting 30-plus carries isn't the best thing. They can both catch the ball well. Both can play in the slot. We'll find ways to get them both in."
Top five
*Allatoona RB Russell Halimon rushed for 320 yards - giving him 765 on the season - on 38 carries and tied the game early in the third quarter with a 63-yard run in a 56-35 victory over North Paulding.
*Grayson RB Cameryn Brent rushed for 196 yards and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 26-16 victory over Hughes in a game between Top 10 teams in Class AAAAAA.
*Milton LB Quarte Sapp had 10 tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a safety in a 26-0 victory over Norcross.
*Pelham RB Desmond Parker rushed for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a 26-6 victory over Mitchell County.
*Washington County QB A.J. Gray was 16-of-24 passing for 232 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-0 victory over Mary Persons. He also rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he had seven tackles, one for a loss, and returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.
Linemen of distinction
*Forsyth Central's offensive line of TE Quincy Peppers, LT Tyler Dahlberg, LG Josh Weilhrauch, C David Allen, RG Ethan Jagnandan, RT Hunter Lamm and TE Patrick Little paved the way for a pair of 100-yard rushers (Shaun Diebel and Sabrian Howard) for the second consecutive game in a 36-14 victory over Woodland of Cartersville. Forsyth Central, a wishbone team, is 2-0 for the first time since 1998.
Best of the rest
*Banks County WR/DB Malcolm Mitchell had two receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, made six tackles and broke up a pass and had 147 yards and a touchdown in returns in a 28-24 victory over Johnson of Gainesville.
*Calhoun QB Kaelan Riley rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries and was 12-of-15 passing for 104 yards in a 34-6 victory over Carrollton.
*Cartersville WR Tiamon Pennymon rushed for 109 yards on 13 carries and had four catches for 87 yards in a 27-26 loss to North Cobb. Pennymon scored three touchdowns.
*Carver (Atlanta) RB Gregory Peyton rushed for 165 yards on 21 carries, caught a 70-yard TD pass and had 95 yards in returns (for a total of 330 all-purpose yards) in a 16-12 victory over Grady.
*Central Gwinnett WR Major Bellamy had nine catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-8 victory over Mundy's Mill.
*Charlton County RB Andrew Lee scored on all three of his rushing attempts, totaling 181 yards, in a 41-0 victory over Hilliard (Fla.).
*Chattahoochee WR Issac Kinsey had eight catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 victory over North Forsyth.
*Chattooga sophomore RB Isaiah Foster (5-8, 150) rushed for 217 yards on 38 carries in a 42-22 loss to North Murray.
*Dougherty QB Michael Whatley was 16-of-19 passing for 310 yards - including an 81-yard pass to Sewonjai Henderson that was the game-winner in the fourth quarter - in a 42-36 victory over Randolph-Clay.
*Early County specialist Jay Moses returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and ran a kickoff 83 yards for a score in the fourth quarter in a 40-6 victory over Miller County. Moses also returned an interception 50 yards. Early's Fred Means also returned a punt for a touchdown in the game.
*Eastside DE Arthur Holmes had 11 tackles - five for sacks - and broke up a pass in a 28-21 overtime victory over Madison County. Sophomore WR Josh Sims had 11 catches for 147 yards and caught the game-winning touchdown.
*Emanuel County Institute RB Michael Sutton rushed for 263 yards on 30 carries in ECI's 35-13 victory over Metter.
*Gilmer FS/RB Chad Watkins had 11 tackles, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and caught a TD pass in a 23-0 victory over Dawson County.
*Jackson (Atlanta) DB Vodi Ferguson had eight solo tackles, three assists, three stops behind the line and a 45-yard TD return of an interception in a 14-12 loss to Decatur.
*Jeff Davis RB Wenner Rodriguez rushed for 208 yards and four touchdowns on 13 attempts in a 41-7 victory over North Cobb Christian.
*Jefferson WR T.J. Skelton caught three passes – all for touchdowns –
*Lanier junior TB Ashton Barnes rushed for 224 yards and scored on runs of 96 and 86 out of the wildcat formation in a 35-20 victory over Clarke Central.
*Lithonia QB Oral Varcciann rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns, completed four of six passes for 96 yards, made eight tackles (one for a loss), made a 25-yard field goal and kicked a 44-yard punt in a 30-6 victory over Towers.
*Locust Grove DT Dorious Rogers had 11 total tackles, nine solo, and two for losses in a 21-3 loss to Union Grove.
*Lovejoy WR Preston Williams had six catches for 150 yards and four touchdowns covering 43, 52, 8 and 26 yards in three quarters of a 41-14 victory over Dutchtown.
*Manchester QB Jabril Flemister rushed for 232 yards and three touchdowns and was 10-of-20 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-22 victory over Taylor County. WR Demarcus Addie had nine catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
*Marist FB Ian Gipson rushed for 156 yards on 29 carries in a 27-7 victory over Lovett. Gipson has rushed for 282 yards in two games, both victories over ranked opponents.
*Mount Pisgah WR/DB Ben Miller 157 all-purpose yards - 60 receiving, 48 rushing (and a touchdown) and 69 returning - in a 27-9 victory over Rabun County. He also intercepted a pass and broke up a pass in the end zone.
*North Cobb RB Bryce Perryman, making his first start, rushed for 113 yards on 21 carries in a 27-26 victory over Cartersville.
*North Paulding QB Kyle Banks was 27-of-49 passing for 365 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-35 loss to Allatoona. In three games, Banks has thrown for 1,013 yards and eight touchdowns against only one interception.
*Northview QB D.J. Pearson was 22-of-31 passing for 301 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-0 victory over Habersham Central.
*Northwest Whitfield LB Austin Morrison had 17 tackles, two for losses, and intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, in a 37-20 victory over Cedartown.
*Ola RB Tyler Pippens rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries in a 41-39 victory over Morrow. QB Joseph Rushin had 169 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
*Parkview QB Jack Chambers passed for 247 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-24 loss to Peachtree Ridge.
*Paulding County WR Antonio Golden had seven receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-31 loss to Alexander. Golden has 352 yards receiving and four touchdowns in two games.
*Peach County RB Keyshawn Lowe scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion and rushed for 146 yards on 16 carries in a 40-12 victory over Perry.
*Peachtree Ridge QB Chance Thrasher was 17-of-25 passing for 250 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-24 victory over Parkview.
*Pickens RB Shannon Brooks rushed for 184 yards on 21 carries in a 38-10 victory over East Hall, then took his official visit to Minnesota on Saturday. Brooks has 495 yards rushing on 47 carries in two games.
*Prince Avenue QB Tyson Herron was 7-of-8 passing for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 41-0 victory over Oglethorpe County.
*River Ridge DL J.R. Williams had four tackles for losses, seven solo stops and broke up a pass in a 15-0 victory over North Atlanta.
*Tattnall Square DL Christian Rogers had nine solo tackles, three for losses, one for a safety, and forced two fumbles, recovering one, in a 51-18 victory over Warren County.
*Troup RB Mess Bonner rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in a 36-14 victory over Northgate.
*Union County LB/RB Chase Barnett caused two fumbles and made 16 tackles in a 28-7 victory over Lumpkin County. He had one TD reception.
*Upson-Lee sophomore QB Kalen Puckett was 9-of-14 passing for 213 yards and rushed for 48 yards and one TD on 10 carries in a 41-7 win over Pike County.
*Washington-Wilkes FS Kemble Laguines returned interceptions 86 and 72 yards for touchdowns in a 27-18 victory over Wilkinson County. He also broke up two passes and made three tackles. Laguines has three interceptions on the season, and the first (vs. Lincoln County) also was returned for a touchdown but was called back for a holding penalty.
*Westminster LB Charlie Trense had a team-leading 13 tackles, one for a 13-yard loss, and forced a fumble in a 14-6 victory over Laney.
*Winder-Barrow RB Cece Green rushed for 235 yards on 26 carries, and his 50-yard TD run with 1:39 left was the game-winning score in a 26-20 victory over county rival Apalachee.
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