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The Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award is given annually to the state's top senior running back as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards. 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 20 semi-finalists, and six finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners will be announced the week of November 23rd.

Mauston running back Kraig Armstrong has come a long way since his freshman season, and it is paying off in a big way this year. After a junior season that saw him rush for 491 yards, he's exploded on the scene with 1,248 yards and 14 touchdowns on 199 carries in seven games. Three times he's gone over 200 rushing yards, despite rarely coming off the field as a defensive standout and special teams player. In a 45-7 win over Wisconsin Dells Armstrong carried the ball 31 times for 226 yards and four touchdowns. In a win over Adams-Friendship to close out the season, he toted the rock 46 times for 223 yards three scores. He was a unanimous First Team All-Conference choice and the South Central Offensive Player of the Year this season.

Edgar spreads the ball around in its running game, and this year's teams was no different. Kyle Brewster didn't lead the team in rushing attempts, but did lead the way in yards, going for 894 yards on 75 carries with 19 touchdowns. He was a big-play machine, averaging 11.9 yards per carry. He also was dynamic in the passing game, hauling in 10 passes for 187 yards and six more touchdowns. One of the better athletes in the state and a four-year varsity player, he was a touchdown waiting to happen. 

In a 38-0 shutout win over Arrowhead in a Level 1 postseason game, Muskego senior running back Alex Current carried the ball 12 times for 178 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 14.8 yards per carry. Amazingly, it actually lowered his rushing average to 16.5 yards per attempt. In the team's Wing-T offense, the recent Bemidji State recruit is a lethal threat on sweeps and reverses despite only being needed a few times per game. He has only carried the ball 57 times in eight games, for 938 yards and 15 touchdowns. Current put up almost identical numbers in 2018 and 2019. Both years he finished with 115 carries in 14 games, rushing for 1,542 yards and 23 touchdowns as a sophomore and 1,540 yards with 22 touchdowns as a junior. He's up to 4,020 career rushing yards with 60 scores. Current is also an accomplished receiver, with 32 receptions for 621 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career, including three receiving scores this season.

Eden Jacobson was a workhorse for Spencer/Columbus Catholic this season, as he is currently second in the state in carries with 199 carries. He's rushed for 1,214 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, including an impressive 161-yard, two-touchdown performance when the Rockets upset Amherst in the final game of the regular season. "Eden is a ferocious runner who has a combination of speed and power to go along with his competitiveness to make him one of the best backs in the state," said head coach Jason Gorst. This is the second straight year he went over 1000 yards.

Heading into the final week of games in this wild 2020 season, Tanner Marsh of Mondovi is leading in the three Triple Crown rushing categories. Despite being the focus of every opposing defense as the single-back in Mondovi's offense, he has 225 carries for 1,754 yards and 22 touchdowns. A three-time First Team All-Conference selection, Marsh holds school records for single-season rushing yards (1754), single-season touchdown runs (22), and career touchdown runs (55). Twice this year he broke the single-game rushing record, with a pair of games above 300 yards. Marsh has 4,274 yards for his illustrious career, eclipsing the 1000-yard mark three times.

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.