Collegio Online

Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Salman Alkhulif/Collegio

For the past four years, running back Germaine Race was the Gorillas' go-to guy and for good reason.
Race, who signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers in April, broke the NCAA's all division scoring record (658 points) and NCAA Division II career rushing mark (6,985 yards). But now that Race has moved onto the NFL, where does that leave the Gorillas' ground game?
Although it's too early in the season to answer that question, the prognosis looks good.
After last Saturday's 28-14 win over Texas A&M-Commerce, it's evident that the Gorillas, even without Race in the backfield, still have a strong running game.
"I think Caleb Farabi showed everybody that first drive, all the doubters, that he's durable and he can run for this team," junior quarterback Mark Smith said.
Junior Caleb Farabi, a Pittsburg native, rushed the ball 28 times for 148 yards in Saturday's win and finished with three receptions for nine yards. As a backup to Race in 2006, Farabi had 33 carries for 239 yards and three touchdowns.
The last time Farabi carried the ball more than 25 times in a game was during his high school career at St. Mary's-Colgan.
"I didn't even know I had 28 carries until someone told me out there," Farabi said.
"Coming in, I was a little anxious, even a little scared because I hadn't been in that situation in a long time," the 5-foot-7, 178-pound Farabi said.
But, despite "three years of riding the pine" behind Race, Farabi hopes he has answered some of the questions that surround the capabilities of the Gorillas' ground game.
"I know that our coaches and our players believe in me, but I know that some fans had questions and, hopefully, I answered them," Farabi said.
Smith finished behind Farabi with 70 yards on 16 carries for three of the Gorillas' four scores. Junior transfer Brandon Clark added four carries for 42 yards.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools