NOKOMIS – Nolan Herpstreith reveres former NFL star Marshawn Lynch and Barry Sanders.
The Nokomis junior running back is a challenge in his own right and has averaged 139.3 rushing yards per game during a 4-0 start in the Lincoln Prairie Conference.
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He recently had 150 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries in a 55-7 win over Cerro Gordo-Bement in Week 4 after rushing for 190 yards and two scores on just 12 touches in a win 62-13 against Villa Grove.
“He’s just tough to get down,” NHS coach Paul Watson said.
He’s just part of a prolific junior class that also includes teammates Daryl Evans and Kadynn Petty. Evans rushed for over 100 yards himself twice to start the season, including 175 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts in a 27-10 season-opening win over Arcola.
Petty, meanwhile, appears as both a quarterback and slot receiver.
“I think a lot of us just care about the game,” Herpstreith said. “We’ve been doing this together since probably fifth grade – a lot of ups and downs, but it’s been really fun.”
Quite a few juniors have started since freshman year, including Herpstreith defensively. He ended up receiving some touches towards the end of his freshman season due to injuries before taking over the primary role offensively the following year.
Herpstreith finished with 1,621 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns last fall and Nokomis reached the playoffs before losing to Greenfield/Northwestern in the first round, 52-13. This dark finale continues to resonate with the NHS this season.
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NHS visits Oakland Tri-County (1-3) on Saturday before hosting Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond (4-0) and Sullivan/Okaw Valley (4-0) the next two weeks for conference supremacy.
“Our goal is to make a deep playoff run,” Watson said. “I think what really inspired us and gave us some extra fire was that playoff game in Greenfield. We started a lot of sophomores and juniors and went out there and they were more physical than us, and that’s kind of what we’ve been preaching all offseason and this season as well. We don’t want to find that feeling in a team that is simply more physical than us.
Herpstreith and Evans certainly complement each other. Herpstreith perhaps brings a certain elusiveness and deviousness in the vein of Lynch or Sanders, while Evans could be described as the murderous type.
Herpstreith credited the offensive line and coaching staff. That line of veterans includes seniors Atticus Bertolino, Kyle Reynolds, Conner Wilson and Drake Taylor, junior Riley Reynolds and sophomore Hunter Arkebauer.
“Most of our O-line guys came back and it was great to have them right off the bat,” said Herpstreith, who also plays cornerback. “They went to the linebackers and safeties sometimes and that makes it easier for me.”
This article originally appeared in the State Journal-Register: IHSA football: Nolan Herpstreith and Nokomis football improve to 4-0
