Aug 30, 2007 - 04:05:06 CDT
Travis Karch became a member of an elite club at New Salem High School last season.The Holsteins' tailback ran for 1,023 yards in eight games, making him only the eighth New Salem running back to roll up quadruple figures in single-season rushing.
This season, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound senior would like to become a member of another elite club. Only two New Salem backs had multiple 1,000-yard seasons - Kelly Kaelberer in 1972 and 1973, and Brandon Sturn in 2003 and 2004.
"If the guys up front block like I know they can, it could happen," said Karch, who carried the ball 142 times, averaged 7.2 yards per carry and scored 13 touchdowns in 2006. "Getting 1,000 yards last year was a big honor and I had a great line to thank for that. It hasn't been done that much at New Salem and we've had a lot of good running backs here. To do it twice would be awesome."
New Salem-Glen Ullin coach Steve Kleinjan said putting together another 1,000-yard season might be a little more difficult for Karch now that the Holsteins are playing 11-man football. Yet, Kleinjan has faith in his prize back.
"Yards are a little harder to come by in 11-man. ... For one thing, you don't have the room around the corners like you do in 9-man," Kleinjan said. "But you can't count out a kid like Travis. If anybody can do it at this level, he can. He's just a hard-nosed runner who has the strength to get the tough yards inside and the speed to break a long one. He isn't flashy. He just knows how to get it done."
Karch is off to a good start in 2007, gaining 112 yards and scoring two touchdowns in about a quarter and a half in New Salem-Glen Ullin's season-opening 50-8 victory over Standing Rock on Aug. 21. Triple-digit games in rushing yardage were commonplace for Karch last season. He had six in all, including four games where he averaged better than 10 yards per carry.
"Travis was very steady, very consistent," Kleinjan said. "And he was efficient. When you look at his carries, he didn't have as many as most 1,000-yard runners. Still, he put up impressive numbers."
Karch has been a steady performer for Kleinjan for two-plus seasons. He started at fullback as a sophomore, playing along side 1,000-yard rusher Chris Bauer. He ran for 454 yards that season and learned plenty from Bauer, a state champion sprinter who is now a member of the Dickinson State University track and field team.
"I looked up to (Bauer) when I was a freshman and sophomore," Karch said. "He helped me a lot. We talked football all the time. We still do."
After playing the 9-man game his first three varsity seasons, Karch is excited about the Holsteins' move to 11-man.
"It's something new ... something different," he said. "We'll be playing different teams every week and learning all about them adds to the challenge. And I'm glad we're in it because I'm hoping to play college football someday. This will help me get a better feel for it."
Karch also excels on the other side of the ball. As a defensive back, he picked off four enemy passes last season, returning one for a touchdown.
This season, he's an outside linebacker, a spot that suits him.
"I like it there. ... You get into the mix of it more," Karch said. "They do more running in 11-man, so I expect to be pretty busy."
The Holsteins advanced to the 9-man playoff semifinals in Karch's sophomore season. In 2006, they went 5-3 without a playoff berth. Karch said the team's primary goal in 2007 is to return to the postseason.
"Last year was a downer because we didn't go (to the playoffs)," he said. "We have a lot of new people and a lot to work on, but we believe we can do it. We're just going to take it one week at a time."
Next up for the Holsteins is No. 1 Harvey, one of the top football programs in the state.
"We'll be tested that's for sure," Karch said. "They always have a good team. We're anxious to see how we stack up against them."
That's MY cuz wrote on Sep 1, 2007 11:49 PM:
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