The Pittsburgh Trib recently did a story on the WPIAl all time running back rushing leaders on October 8th. The leader of the pack was Fort Cherry High School tailback Mike Vernillo. Through the 1999 season Vernillo rushed for 7,646 yards which is phenominal. Mike Vernillo was on a local TV show I hosted on Adelphia Cable back in 1999 and 2000 and made a nice presentation. He signed with West Virginia and then transferred to Slippery Rock. As I scanned over the list on top WPIAL rushers, one name was missing. The 10th leading rusher was Beth-Center's Keith Miller 5,121 and this tailback was not even in the top 10. He is Hopewell's Tony Dorsett who was the real deal in high school, college, and the NFL. Two Pittsburgh City Schools running backs who are were the real deals were Schenley's Larry Brown, who played at Kansas State, and 8 years for the Washington Redskins. Larry Brown made the Pro Bowl 4 years. And the other was Alllderdice's Curtis Martin, who had a real good career at Pitt, and a great career for the New York Jets. Who says this area does not produce running backs? Next in line is Hopewell's Rushel Shell(only a Junior) and if he stays healthy, should easily surpass Mike Vernillo's 7646 yard total. Shell is a legit guy and I am going to compare his style, body type and explosiveness to Alabama's Mark Ingram. If Babe Ruth was alive, he would say records are made to be broken.
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