By JIM WALLER
jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com
When senior Princeton Lollar Jr. walked into Oak Harbor High School for the first time as a freshman, he stopped by the football record board, took a look and set a goal — break the school career rushing record.
“When I got home that night, my sister (Dejsha, a 2015 OHHS graduate) and I sat in the living room and figured out how many yards I would have to rush for in each game to break the record,” Lollar said.
He surpassed those per game totals on the way to surpassing the record Friday, Sept. 16, in the Wildcats’ 41-0 win over Stanwood.
Lollar came into the game needing 48 yards to break Chris Isaacson’s record of 2,618 yards established from 1980-1982. Lollar did it in spectacular fashion. A 95-yard run in the second quarter pushed him past Isaacson. Lollar finished the night with 203 yards and five touchdowns.
Maybe more
Barring injury or some other setback, Lollar will post an impressive new record by the time the season is complete. The Wildcats play at least six more regular games and, possibly, a few postseason contests.
Lollar has a shot at several other records.
“Those would be nice, but my goal has always been the career record,” he said.
Going into last night’s game with Rogers, Lollar had 587 yards this season, an average of 195.7 yards per game. At that rate, he will finish the regular season with 1,761 yards, which would jump past Isaacson’s single season record of 1,559 set in 1982.
Lollar also has 37 career touchdowns, seven shy of Josiah Miller’s mark of 43 set 2009-2011. Lollar has scored nine TDs this season, and, at that pace, he will tie Miller’s single-season mark of 27 set in 2011.
Lollar’s five touchdowns scored in Friday’s game is the second most in school history. Miller and Mac Nuanez each scored six.
Ironically, Nuanez, Lollar’s backup, scored six touchdowns in a game last season while subbing for an injured Lollar.
Power play
Lollar and Isaacson share similar running styles, and Lollar said it’s that style that separates him from most of the others on the school’s record list.
“I bring something else; I run the ball with power,” he said.
At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds Lollar treats defensive players like speed bumps and not traffic cones — he goes over them, not around them. Or, using another analogy: think rhinoceros and not gazelle.
Oak Harbor head coach Jay Turner said what is most impressive about Lollar’s record is that he runs exclusively between the tackles and is hit on every play — no long runs untouched around the end.
In fact, offensive coordinator Mike Fisher noted that there are only three plays in the playbook for Lollar.
Fisher added that Lollar has made calling plays much easier “knowing you are going to get three of four yards per play.”
Lollar, who averages 22 carries per game, takes a beating running into the line.
“I don’t complain about it,” Lollar said. “It’s part of the game; it’s what you do as a fullback. I can definitely feel it the next day, but it is worth it.”
Lollar called his new mark a team record, one he wouldn’t have reached if it wasn’t for the work of those blocking in front of him: Sam Zook, D’Andre Bellamy, Weston Whitefoot, Colton Burdick, Kamren Mebane and Ozell Malcolm Jackson IV.
After Friday’s game, Zook said, “He has his name on it, but it is everybody’s record.”
“It’s definitely exciting to be part of it,” Bellamy said.
Team first
Lollar downplays the talk of records, saying the focus isn’t on him but what is important for the team.
“Winning the league championship is the goal,” he said.
That attitude is Lollar’s best quality, according to Fisher.
“The nicest thing he has done this year is his growth as a leader,” Fisher said. “He works hard to help the other players understand our program.”
Lollar, the son of Princeton Sr. and Cassandra Lollar, was raised by his mother.
“My mom has always been there, through the ups and downs,” he said. “She is a single mom and did the dad role, too. She is strong, and she has never missed a game.”
He said Uncle Chuck Clarke helped him develop, leading him through summer workouts. Lollar also noted that OHHS assistant coach Brian Jones, who coached Lollar in youth football as well, helped “mold” him.
“Not having a dad around, he was a father figure for me. He helped make me who I am today.”
Lollar hopes to play college football and has heard from numerous colleges, with UNLV and UTEP showing the most interest.
“I would like to play down South,” he said. “I have family down there and I like the heat.”
Regardless of where he plays, chances are his first stop will be at the school’s record board.
