Every once in a while, like a golden full moon rising over the harbor on a clear Friday night, something spectacular happens in a high school football game. It was under just such a moon that Bishop Diego running back John Harris electrified a La Playa Stadium crowd by streaking 91 yards for a touchdown.
Harris, a 6′2″, 205-pound junior, is a runner of power and finesse. Taking a deep handoff or a pitchout, he surveys the wreckage along the line before picking a path through it. He runs with a forward lean, and defenders almost never stop him cold. A typical Harris run finishes with a pile of players being driven several yards beyond the point they first hit him.
When Harris finds open space, it’s another story. In the second quarter of the Cardinals’ game against the St. Joseph Knights last Friday night, Harris broke loose on a carry from Bishop’s nine-yard line. He made a cut that left a defensive back gasping for air and took off down the left sideline. Another St. Joseph defender tried to run him down from behind, but the unyielding Harris won the frantic race to the end zone.