Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award Finalists for top senior running back
10/26/2012, 4:30pm CDT
By Travis Wilson
The Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award is given annually to the state's top senior running back as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards presented by Taco Bell. The award is named after former Wausau High School athlete Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, who went on to play for the University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan before starring at end in the NFL for 12 seasons. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the National High School Hall of Fame, and later went on to serve as Wisconsin's athletic director from 1969 to 1987.
The pre-season watch list was trimmed down to 25 semi-finalists, and five finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners are announced the week of the state finals.
Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award Finalists:
Mason Dixon, Big Foot – Dixon has been extremely productive since starting as a sophomore, despite sharing time with First Team All-State running back Kenneth Walker his first two years. In fact, he broke the school rushing record previously held by Walker's older brother Michael just last week. This season, despite seldom carrying the ball in the second half of most games, he's racked up 1402 yards and 29 touchdowns on only 104 carries. He's averaging one touchdown every 3.5 carries and 13.5 yards per carry. “He has had his biggest games against our best opponents when we were able to keep him in the game for parts of the second half,” head coach Rodney Wedig said. “He practices as hard as anyone and every play in practice he runs like it could be his last.”
Zeke Emerick, Jefferson – Emerick had a very good junior season, rushing for more than 1100 yards with 18 touchdowns. He really took his game to a new level this year, racking up 1782 yards and a state-leading 31 touchdowns through the first nine games of the season. “He has established our school's single-season rushing record in only nine games (the previous record was set in 12 games),” head coach Steve Gee said. “I feel that Zeke is an excellent candidate for the award.” Emerick has at least one touchdown in each game this season, with multiple touchdowns in all but one contest.
Alex Giles, Cedar Grove-Belgium – Giles has gone through some personal struggles this year, but he has not let it impact his production on the field or his leadership on the team. He burst on the scene as a junior with 2614 yards and 36 touchdowns in 13 games as the Rockets advanced to Level 4, and has maintained a high level of performance this season. Despite being one of the few starters back on offense, he's rushed for 1615 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season, going over the 5000-yard mark for his career in the team's Level 1 game.
Austin Ramesh, Northland Pines – Ramesh has been on the statewide scene since rushing for 1650 yards as a sophomore back in 2010. A strong junior campaign set up an outstanding senior season, as he helped the Eagles to the WestPAC title and unbeaten regular season record. In 9 games he has rushed for 1670 yards and 19 touchdowns, with a 10.9 yard per carry average. Add it all up and he is in third place on the all-time state career rushing list with 5939 yards.
R.J. Shelton, Beaver Dam – One of the most explosive backs to come out of the state of Wisconsin in the last decade, Shelton is yet another player that has gone over the 5000-yard mark for his career this year. In just 8 games this season, Shelton went for 1302 yards with 15 touchdowns while averaging 8.7 yards per carry. He's also one of the most versatile backs in the state, capable of swinging out for pass routes and serving as a threat in the return game. “He is the most diverse back in the state with the ability to run the ball with toughness as well as catch the ball in space and make positive yards,” head coach Tim White said.
