Late in the third quarter of the Chaps’ week three game against Atascocita, sophomore running back Jarren Lopez made his way to the medical tent after being banged up on a run earlier in the game. Lopez was seen shortly after his exit, but this time on the sideline with a boot on his right foot.
Lopez was questionable for the Chaps’ week three matchup with Steele, their final non-district contest of the season.
Lopez made the decision to play the day before the game, he said, helping the Chaps (3-1) overcome the Knights (3-1) 37-14 Friday night at Chaparral Stadium. He rushed for 104 yards on only 13 carries, the first 100 plus yard game by any running back all season.
“He was able to get in practice on Wednesday, and had a good Thursday practice,” head coach Tony Salazar said. “And I’m glad he was ready, because we needed those yards.”
Lopez came in for his first play early in the second quarter, making his impact felt immediately. He began to move the ball into the redzone where the Chaps added a field goal to take a 10-7 lead.
After a three-and-out by the defense, Lopez added his longest rush of the night, moving the ball to the Knights 25 for a 41-yard gain. Lopez added a few more yards before junior wideout Braden Riddell leaped over the offensive line for the touchdown.
Beyond Lopez and senior running back Sebastian Henault, who added 63 yards and a touchdown to the offense Friday, the Chaps utilized senior quarterback Rees Wise near the goal line. Wise has rushed for four touchdowns on the season, including one Friday night.
This constant ability to run the ball with whatever player necessary has made the rushing game a key piece to the Chaps offense all year. The team averages 218 rushing yards a game and has 14 rushing touchdowns so far.
“Coach Rosch and our offensive run game coordinators do an outstanding job coming to game plan every single week, obviously sticking with our bread and butter in what we do,” Salazar said. “But obviously [we] give a little flavor every week to give our opponents some fits. So it’s a combination of our offensive line and our running game coordinator coach Rosch.”
The one-two punch of Lopez and Henault has allowed the offense to keep defenses on its heels.
“You know, Jaren’s more of a fast, twitchy, quick guy, gets outside runs, big bursts,” Henault said. “I’m more of an inside the tackles, hard nose running, a good four [or] five yards every carry.”
While the Chaps put up a good running attack of their own, the defense did an equally good job of stopping the Knights rushing attack, one that is considered to be one of the best in the state.
“Week by week, we’re getting a little bit better. And that’s the whole goal. And obviously, the guys are getting better,” Salazar said. “You’re seeing a lot of the same faces out there that three weeks ago, [were] kind of running around a little bit uncertain, and now they’re getting more confidence in where to be, where to line up, and we’re making more plays.”
One reason for the success of the running back room is the blocking ability of the offensive line. With four seniors on the line and two returning starters, the Chaps have effectively ran the ball all season.
“It’s those guys up front. Running backs aren’t just running through 10 blocks,” Salazar said. “It’s our o-line creating holes.”
The team will look to get healthy this week during the bye before they move into district play against Akins.
“Next week, we need to collect. We need to rehab our injured guys,” Henault said. “We got to get prepared for Akins in our [district] season.”
