Previous record holders Chris Spade (left) and Chris Douglas (right) with Bandys High senior running back Ethan Howard after Howard broke Spade’s career rushing record. Howard finished his career with 4,633 rushing yards./MICHELLE THOMPSON PHOTO
TROJANS RUSHING
The top three career rushing totals that have been documented for Bandys High football:
Ethan Howard, 2015-2018: 656-4,633 yards, 45 TDs
Chris Spade, 2003-04: 593-4,064, 30 TDs
Chris Douglas, 1997-98: 403-3,261, 44 TDs
SOURCE: HobbsDailyReport.com research and files
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
CATAWBA – With final official rushing totals of 39 carries for 189 yards in his 48th and final varsity football game for Bandys High, running back Ethan Howard closed his career with school records for single-season rushing and career rushing.
Howard, a 5-foot-11, 245 pound senior, posted his 24th career game of 100 or more yards in the Trojans’ 34-15 loss last Friday night at Hibriten in a third round 2AA playoff game.
His rushing totals as a senior have been compiled by the Bandys coaching staff’s review of game film, and his official totals for his first three varsity seasons were compiled by HobbsDailyReport.com editor-owner Chris Hobbs.
Howard’s official totals this year are 306 carries for 2,398 yards with 26 rushing TDs plus four receptions for 28 yards.
The previous record for single-season rushing yardage was held by Chris Douglas (260-2,093 in 1998), who was an All-ACC player at Duke. Douglas was the Trojans’ career rushing leader (403-3,261 in 29 games) until his mark was broken by Chris Spade (593-4,064 in 2003-04 in 29 games).
Howard’s official career totals are 656 carries for 4,633 yards with 45 rushing scores, 13 receptions for 160 yards and one TD, and 4,793 yards of total offense.
Bandys went 22-26 in Howard’s four years on the varsity – 2-9, 3-8, 5-7 and 12-2.
Howard said Friday night he’ll likely make a college choice early next year, as he needs time to determine a few things, including a potential college major.
Senior running back Ethan Howard played in 48 varsity games for Bandys and will graduate as the Trojans’ single-season and career rushing leader. To surpass Howard, a future Bandys player would have to play four years on the varsity and gain an average of 1,159 yards per season./MICHELLE THOMPSON PHOTO
ETHAN HOWARD’S STATISTICS
SENIOR YEAR
Carries-yards: 306-2,398
Receptions-yards: 4-28
Rushing TDs: 26
100-yard games: 12
CAREER
Carries-yards: 656-4,633
Receptions-yards: 13-160
Passing: 0-1-0, no yards
Total offense: 4,793
Rushing TDs: 45
Receiving TDs: 1
100-yard games: 24
