I must confess, the above headline is purposely provocative. I wouldn't dare make such a claim for Brandon Real, or anybody, for that matter. I'm not going to pretend I know enough about this league and the thousands of running backs that have competed in its games over the past few decades.
Nonetheless, considering Real's numbers this season, it's something worth thinking about.
The stat the sticks out the most is touchdowns. Real has run for 39 on the ground and scored another 10 on special teams with punt and kick returns to give him 49 total. Going into the season, Parkland's Austin Scott held the state single-season record with 53 touchdowns during the 2002 season, but Schuykill Haven's Zach Barket has already scored 55 this season and his team is still alive in the PIAA Class A playoffs.
After Real, the most prolific scorers among YAIAA football players that I could find in our records are Central York's Brad Senft (33 TDs in 1975), Susquehannock's Adam Cook (33 TDs in 2001) and Delone Catholic's Mark Lookenbill (32 TDs in 1988).
His yardage numbers aren't as insane, but they do seem to put Real at the top of the YAIAA heap from what I can tell.
Through 12 games, Real has run for 2,333 yards, putting him ahead of previous area leader Jason Jarvis, who rushed for 2,200 yards at New Oxford in 1996.
Real also has the only 400-yard single-game rushing performance after finishing with 406 yards on the ground last week. The two other top single-game rushing leaders are former Dallastown players: Chris Moore (336 yards in a 1998 game) and Tracy Smith (317 yards in a 1983 game).
Is there a running back I missed? Who else deserves consideration? The comments section awaits your input.
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