SHELBY — That Brennan Armstrong accounted for 520 yards and nine touchdowns in a single game is unfathomable. That he did it prior to blowing out the candles on his 15th birthday cake is practically impossible.
Before the Richland Bank Athlete of the Week celebrated his 15th birthday over the weekend, he passed for 306 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for another 214 yards and four TDs in Shelby’s mind-boggling 83-82 overtime loss to Tiffin Columbian. The accomplishment was overshadowed by Tiffin Columbian running back Cliff Miller, who rushed for 516 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in the shootout.
“To do what he did as a 14-year-old freshman is remarkable,” Shelby coach Erik Will said. “He was coming off the field during the game and talking to our offensive coaches about what he thought would work. He has shown a lot of composure for someone his age.”
That is one reason why Will, a Shelby graduate, didn’t hesitate to put a freshman under center in Week 1. His faith has paid off to the tune of 1,271 passing yards and 629 rushing yards.
“Did I have reservations about putting a freshman out there? Absolutely not,” Will said. “He’s a bright kid, an honor roll student, and we kind of catered our offense to him.
“He understands the complexities of the offense so we keep adding more wrinkles. The last three weeks, we have gone no-huddle.”
While Armstrong’s emergence has taken Richland County by surprise, Will could see it coming.
“We knew we had something special when Brennan was in the eighth grade,” Will said. “You could tell he was one of those special athletes who was going to help us right away. You sometimes worry that a freshman might overstep his bounds, but he has a lot of respect for the seniors.”
Friday’s game has garnered attention locally and nationally. Armstrong, a 6-foot, 168-pound left-hander, is nominated for the JJHuddle.com Player of the Week presented by the Ohio National Guard (as is Miller).
“It was 75-52 and we had the ball and I said to myself, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this,’ ” Will said. “I think there were two times in the first half where we didn’t score and we scored every time we had the ball in the second half. It was unbelievable.”
The Whippets are 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the Northern Ohio League. Three of Shelby’s losses have been by one point.
“We just can’t quite get over the hump, but the kids believe in what we are doing,” Will said. “They are staying strong and that is a credit to our seniors.
“We are headed in the right direction.”
Shelby fans have plenty to look forward to. Armstrong also is a standout basketball and baseball player.
“He could end up starting on the basketball team this winter and he is a left-handed pitcher who throws in the mid-80s,” Will said. “Brennan is going to have a lot of options when it comes time to pick a college.”
“To do what he did as a 14-year-old freshman is remarkable,” Shelby coach Erik Will said. “He was coming off the field during the game and talking to our offensive coaches about what he thought would work.”
