The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Columbia’s Coleman garners honor
Brandon Coleman rebounded from an injury that has been known to end careers only to solidify himself as arguably the best running back in Lorain County history.
The senior recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament his junior year, added nearly 20 pounds of muscle, and went on to put up record-breaking numbers to cap an illustrious career at Columbia.
He became the county’s alltime leading rusher with 5,140 career yards, was named Division VI first-team All-Ohio, earned the 2018 Matt Wilhelm Award and now adds the 2018 Golden Helmet Award to his growing collection.
“It means a lot,” Coleman said. “I mean, I’m happy I won this award, but I’m just so grateful for all my teammates, my linemen especially.
“It’s been a journey, that’s for sure. It’s an honor to win this award and I’m grateful to my teammates, coaches, my mom, my dad, my brother, Columbia Station and all.”
The Golden Helmet is given annually to a senior football player in Lorain County who displayed exceptional talent on the field, good standing in the classroom and the ability to play at the collegiate level.
In a field of many talented athletes from around the county, including a handful of standout running backs, Coleman’s senior season is one that will be remembered in Columbia and beyond as he hits the recruiting trail.
The 6-foot-1, 215 pound running back/linebacker rushed for 1,698 yards and 23 touchdowns on 148 carries, averaging a staggering 11.5 yards per carry. He added 11 receptions for 102 yards and even threw a touchdown pass this season. Defensively, Coleman had 74 tackles (48 solo), including 12.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions.
He had only two sub-100 yard games this year: First, in a lopsided loss to state finalist Kirtland on Aug. 31 (11 carries, 52 yards) and second, in a blowout win over Brooklyn on Oct. 12 in which he carried the ball twice for 36 yards before earning a rest on the sideline.
If colleges were waiting to offer Coleman until seeing how he bounced back from his knee injury, it’s likely the offers will start to roll in as college bowl season approaches.
Coleman currently has an offer from Indiana State.
“I, for one, have never seen a high school running back run with the combination of speed and power he possesses,” Columbia coach Jason Ward said.
Not one for individual accolades, Coleman accepted the Golden Helmet Award surrounded by coaches, teammates and family at the Columbia Ballroom on Nov. 27, and Ward, who’s coached Coleman all four years at Columbia, has said it’s his humility, exceptional attitude and unparalleled work ethic that allowed Coleman to become the best running back to ever play for the Raiders.
Columbia now has three Golden Helmet winners since the award’s inception in 1965, including 2002 winner Dustin Intihar and 2013 winner Jay Banyasz, who is now a member of the Raiders’ coaching staff and was on hand to see Coleman join him on a list of the county’s best football players.
“It’s well-deserved to say the least,” Banyasz said of Coleman. “You see a lot of the hard work behind the scenes and all the confidence on the field, it couldn’t go to a more deserving player . ... It’s just a lot of pride for me and for Columbia.
“It says a lot about a person when you come back from adversity like that (injury) . ... He loves the game of football, and he’s going to do whatever it takes to be successful at it . ... Knowing that more times than not you’re going to have the best player on the field at all times, it’s a luxury. Sometimes you forget that. ... We’re glad we have No. 23 on our team.”