Here's a look at a fleet crop of cruisers, bruisers and burners from area football teams still in the playoffs. It's a very up season for the runner. Listed in order of yards rushing.
* Devontae Butler, Grant
Numbers: 2,637 yards, 46 touchdowns, 12-0 record
Rundown: Runs hard, fast, over foes, around them. Can grind away on goal line or break the 80-yarder and rarely carries more than 20 times. Best Grant back since Onterrio Smith.
* Ryan Dimino, Del Campo
Numbers: 2,351 yards, 23 touchdowns, 11-1 record
Rundown: Yes, he's a quarterback, but by title only. He's really a bulldozer with a QB title, relentless with instincts and hard to contain. Deadly out of shotgun formation, headed to UC Davis to play LB.
* Bryce Pratt, Del Oro
Numbers: 2,036 yards, 33 touchdowns, 10-2 record
Rundown: After a 1,000-yard season and 20 scores in 2008, he's emerged as a superior talent - stronger, faster, wiser, a leader. School record holder runs hard and is best Del Oro back ever.
* Jackson Cummings, Rocklin
Numbers: 1,957 yards, 34 touchdowns, 12-0 record
Rundown: Best back in school history, easily, and the primary weapon out of the Pistol offense. Fast, elusive, tough, determined with local schools and Ivy League programs wanting his leadership and GPA.
* Antonio Bumpers, Inderkum
Numbers: 1,901 yards, 33 touchdowns, 12-0 record
Rundown: School-record holder is a cinch for 2,000 yards; runs hard and is fast enough to bounce off safeties. Transfer from Grant who has adopted to wing-T for team that seeks D-III section title.
* Tyler Takahaski, Bradshaw Christian
Numbers: 1,688 yards, 20 touchdowns, 10-1 record
Rundown: Small school, yes. Big time production, absolutely. Has the Pride rolling along in D-VI field with a 10-game winning streak.
* Drake Tofi, Monterey Trail
Numbers: 1,577 yards, 25 touchdowns, 10-2 record
Rundown: The ace option in the veer offense, he runs hard and often pulls away from the pack up the middle. Also hard to stop on the goal-line. His overtime touchdown and 2-point conversion handed Folsom only loss. And this: only a junior.
* Brady Dragmire, Bradshaw Christian
Numbers: 1,558 yards, 24 touchdowns, 10-1 record
Rundown: Only a junior, the Brady Bunch won a section title a year ago, closing in on one now and could be heavy favorites to do so next season, too. Part of the Pride's lethal 1-2 punch for best ever team.
* Asher Gotzmer, Placer
Numbers: 1,468 yards, 20 touchdowns, 11-1 record
Rundown: AG is the top option in the Hillmen's heady wing-T attack that is on the cusp of the program's first section title since 1982. Runs hard, runs fast, can block, execute fakes - all staples of the wing-T.
* Devin Hartley, Inderkum
Numbers: 1,030 yards, 9 touchdowns, 12-0 record
Rundown: A receiver in any other offense, and for sure in college, Hartley is a blur of a halfback for the Tigers and a true breakaway threat. Also loves to fake and block, key elements for this scheme.
