Ficklin on a Mission
Senior back puts injuries behind him to lead Titans
IfAndrew Ficklin wanted one thing out of his senior season, it was to just remain on the field. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound New Mission running back knew he had the talent to succeed, but staying healthy throughout his high school career has proved challenging.
The past two seasons, Ficklin dealt with high-ankle sprains that derailed promising sophomore and junior campaigns.
Fully healthy this time around, Ficklin has put together the season he always knew he had in him, rushing for 952 yards and 12 touchdowns while leading the Titans into the playoffs.
“It was heartbreaking,” Ficklin said of his injury-plagued seasons. “I started off as a freshman doing good, coming into my sophomore year doing good, but the whole recovering process, it all took a lot out of me. Honestly, I was just waiting to get back on the field and play a full season.
“I have a lot to prove to everybody. This is something that should have happened a long time ago. I got my chance now, and I’m just going to make the best of it.”
However, Ficklin and New Mission’s offense struggled early, dropping the first two games of the season while scoring a combined 14 points.
But coach Michael Pittman-Forman believed the Titans’ season took a turn in the second half of a 46-8 lopsided loss against Capitol Prep (Conn.), in which Ficklin scored the lone touchdown and displayed his senior leadership.
“(His leadership) had to develop as a senior,” Pittman-Forman said. “He’s a quiet leader. Every once in a while he can get a little boisterous. Most of the time he’s quiet and leads by example, and that’s what I would like a lot of the kids to do.”
Following the rough start, Ficklin and the rushing attack clicked into high gear. Behind a senior-laden offensive line, Ficklin ran wild as New Mission won four straight, averaging 37 points per game during the streak.
“We take a lot of pride in our running game,” Ficklin said. “We like to play smash-mouth football. As a running back you know you’re going to get the ball a lot, so heading into each game, you got to be on your A-game.”
With Ficklin hitting his stride, fifthseeded New Mission featured him last week in the Division 8 North quarterfinals against No. 4 Charlestown. Ficklin racked up 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 11 carries as the Titans rolled to a 44-6 win.
“Playoff time, that’s when you got to bring out the big guns,” Ficklin said. “You got to work, so that was my mindset, focusing on getting us a win.”
Ficklin was one of five Titans to find the end zone in the playoff victory, and while New Mission deploys multiple running backs, there isn’t one that can duplicate Ficklin’s skillset.
“He’s able to make plays out of nothing,” said fellow running back Takari Hobbs. “He has great agility. He’s a real good player.”
Since dealing with the injuries that robbed him of playing time, Ficklin takes every game as a chance to showcase his immense talent.
Ficklin can display it again tomorrow, when he leads New Mission against top-seeded Lynn Tech in the sectional semifinals.
“I have to work extra hard because these guys are going to follow me,” Ficklin said. “This is some people’s first time even making the playoffs with us, so
I have to carry them and show them the way.”