Bruins bruiser Sistrunk first 2017 player of week
There’s bad news for Northwest Whitfield football opponents, and then there’s news that might cause them to shudder.
Running back Dominique Sistrunk is back and started his junior season with a 273-yard, five-touchdown performance in a 48-29 victory at Ringgold.
For that he earned 2017’s initial honor as Waffle House prep player of the week.
“When we started in the spring he weighed 251 and got down to 240, but with his frame he could carry 270-280,” Bruins coach Josh Robinson said. “He is growing up.”
That wasn’t “has grown up.”
Sistrunk is still growing, both physically and mentally.
“There were times last year that he’d take himself out of games, but Friday it was ‘Coach, give me the ball. I’ve got this. I’ll take care of it,’” Robinson said. “If he continues to play like that, our ceiling just got a lot higher.
“Last year he had 170 yards against Pickens in the first quarter. He said he didn’t feel right and took himself out. This year in camp, though, he tweaked a knee and didn’t take himself out. He’s no longer a sophomore.”
The Bruins are anything but a one-man show, though, with quarterback Luke Shiflett, who added 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Shiflett, who also passed for 114, has committed already to Middle Tennessee State.
Sistrunk’s five scores were runs of 34, 1, 4, 34 and 75 yards. He exited the game for the final time midway of the fourth quarter.
“Two-thirds of his yards were after first contact, and I think we counted 13 times that he just flat ran over somebody,” Robinson said.
The coach also gave credit to the Bruins’ offensive line.
“He’d get good blocking, get 12 yards and then run over a defensive back. Then the blocking would be OK and he’d get 3 yards before contact and then get 5 more. With situations like that my wife could call plays,” Robinson said. “There were times when he didn’t get touched until he got to the third level.
“It’s the best our offensive line has played in a first game probably since I’ve been the head coach, and this is year seven for me.”
The bulk of Sistrunk’s yardage came between the tackles. The one time he went outside, a defensive back made a dive at his ankles.
“I don’t blame him,” Robinson said of the defender’s effort. “This is a DB that weighs probably 160 pounds trying to tackle a 240-pounder. They just don’t grow kids like him in south Tennessee and north Georgia. That’s for sure.”
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-8864765. Follow him at Twitter @ wardgossett.