Garrett Boures didn’t look tired.
Garrett Boures didn’t sound tired.
Garrett Boures insisted he wasn’t tired.
And maybe he wasn’t – high school seniors after all, have a lot more energy than most people.
“I could go out now and carry the ball 40 more times,” said the Phillipsburg senior co-captain and running back.
And maybe he could – after the show Boures put on at a packed Stewart Field atHunterdon Central Friday night, nothing might be past him.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Boures carried the ball 40 times for 175 yards and scored both P’burg touchdowns on runs of 3 and 54 yards tbas the Stateliners battled past a game and determined Red Devil squad for a 17-14 Mid-State 38 Delaware Division win.
“I’ve never carried the ball that many times in a game,” Boures said.
It’s worth remembering that Boures also plays middle linebacker, and did so very well Friday night against a physical and skilled team, well enough to hold the Red Devils to 50 rushing yards and one offensive touchdown. He broke up a pass and played a screen pass perfectly for a four-yard loss.
Boures almost never left the field Friday and never looked in the slightest that he needed to. It’s on nights like Friday that all those hours of summer conditioning and training pay off in jackpots.
The argument could be made that the Stateliners (2-0) couldn’t have afforded for Boures to take a play off, especially on offense. With senior halfback Ja’Quan Jones, who didn’t practice all week, being held out with an injury, and starting quarterbackJack Stagaard departing at halftime with a shoulder injury, Boures, was, essentially, the entire P’burg offense.
“We were saving Ja’Quan for later games,” Boures said. “I knew I’d get the ball a lot this week but I didn’t know it would be for 40 carries.”
Hunterdon Central (0-2) would have been excused to think there were several P’burg players wearing the number 22 so often did Boures come at them. Almost all of his yards were gained between the tackles, with the Stateliner line pushing the Red Devils back and Boures finding a gap.
“I think it came down to the push I got from the offensive line,” Boures said. “(Assistant coach Mark) Bigelli has a great scheme and they always fire off the ball. I couldn’t be prouder of my linemen.”
Boures, who know has 301 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the season, didn’t miss a beat when his lead man and blocker, senior Danny Fisher, had to switch to quarterback when Stagaard went down. Sophomore Mark Zgoda, who an interception on defense, came in and led the way for Boures as if nothing had changed.
Boures’ big play that gave Phillipsburg the lead for good showed off his underrated speed. On a 3rd-and-18 call he tore off right tackle, pushed through traffic, and once in the open field hit another gear to roar 54 yards for a touchdown.
Boures said that play went for a score every time in practice. Told that, Phillipsburg head coach Frank Duffy smiled,
“Then we’ll have to keep running it,” he said.
Keeping on running Garrett Boures looks never to be a bad idea for Phillipsburg this fall.
Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.