By Dave Morrison
Richwood quarterback Sam Tindal says when he watches quarterbacks, Florida signalcaller Tim Tebow usually is the role model he watches.
Tindal did his best Tebow impersonation Saturday in the Lumberjacks’ 44-26 Class A quarterfinal win over Wirt County.
The junior had a playoff-record 358 yards rushing, with three touchdowns, as the Lumberjacks (12-0) rolled into the semifinals, where they’ll face Man (11-1) at Man at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
“I’m not really surprised because of the way the line was blocking,” Tindal said. “They’ve blocked really well all year but I was really impressed with the way they blocked (against Wirt). The holes were huge. All I had to do was find them. That was probably as well as they’ve blocked all year.”
In addition to Tindal’s 358, senior tailback Dustin Brown had 203 yards.
“Our line was huge,” Richwood coach Jason Rogers said. “That was the best-blocked game we’ve had.”
In fact, it was at the line’s urging that Tindal start running up inside more.
“They told me the holes were opening there, stop taking it outside so much,” Tindal said. “And they were. When I went inside, we were knocking off 10, 15 yards a run.”
Of course, Tindal deserves part of the credit, too.
“He could probably be a tailback,” Rogers said. “He has that kind of mentality. He’s strong. He benches almost 300 and his feet never stop moving. He hates being tackled.”
Tindal knew he was onto a big night.
“I didn’t know it was going to be a record, but I knew with the way the blocks were there — our linemen were making their initial blocks then making one or two more — I was running a lot.
“They made an announcement in the fourth quarter. I didn’t hear it but some of the guys said something to me about it. Then coach told me after the game. I never thought anything about a record. We’re just trying to win games and keep playing. I really didn’t know what to think. It’s kind of overwhelming.”
Brown has already topped the 2,000-yard mark for the season. He has 2,305 yards and 39 total touchdowns.
Tindal now has 1,914 yards and 27 touchdowns.
But he is far from being a one-trick pony.
He also has thrown for over 1,200 yards and has 11 touchdown passes.
“We don’t pass a whole lot,” Tindal said. “But I love it when we do. I’m a pressure-type player. I love playing in games when we need to pass.”
It’s leadership that is his strongest attribute, Rogers said.
“There have been games this season when he only had a couple carries, and he is still smiling,” Rogers said. “In our last regular-season game against Gilmer County we ran an option and he had a lane but he pitched the ball to Dustin. Dustin asked him why he didn’t take off and he said, ‘It was Senior Night, I wanted you to get the yards.’ That, in a nutshell, is Sam Tindal.”
What can he do for an encore?
“For myself, I don’t think I can top that,” Tindal said. “I don’t care if I get zero yards as long as we win.”
