A healthy Shakerin regaining prowess

Alta's Sausan Shakerin ran all over the competition in 2006. He ran for over 2,200 yards and was named the Deseret Morning News Mr. Football. After struggling through an injury-plagued 2007 regular season that saw him rush for under 700 yards, things are just starting to get back to normal. In the Hawks' three playoff games he's rushed for about 360 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.

In other words — he's back.

"Shak is just starting to round into form," said Hawks coach Les Hamilton after their quarterfinal win over Timpanogos. "He is just starting to finally get healthy, and you see the results. He was our workhorse. He didn't really break any big runs, but he pounded it in there pretty good and got the tough yards we needed."

The same could be said for the 21-17 semifinal win over Bingham. He didn't do anything spectacular like he did the year before against the same Miners in the finals — a game in which he nearly broke a state championship game record with 276 yards on the ground — but his tough inside running was instrumental in keeping the ball in Alta's possession. He ran for 90 yards on 26 carries. Perhaps even more impressive were the three short runs he had for touchdowns.

"When I get down there close, I just want to finish things off," said Shakerin. "I know that if I get any type of opening I can get a yard or two."

Shak is quick, however, to always compliment the boys up front making those openings for him.

"I couldn't do anything without my linemen," he said. "Those guys have done a great job up front. They are the ones that deserve all the credit. It doesn't matter how fast or strong you are, if they don't get some people blocked, you aren't going anywhere."

The Alta offensive line does deserve credit for much of Shakerin's success. Parker Erickson, Kevin Fortin, Spencer Johnson, Jordan Betz, Keith Hantla and tight ends Brady Hunt and Jet Tomlinson have opened up holes and given the back the creases necessary to break the runs. The other big factor for Shakerin re-emerging is the physical recovery.

The 6-foot-3 and 210-pound back injured his right knee before the team's first game. He may have rushed his return a bit before getting completely healthy, and in the meantime he injured his left knee. This time he allowed the healing process to take place, and it shows.

"He is starting to remind us of the player he was last year," said Hamilton. "He isn't as hesitant now, and he really is hitting the holes harder. Plus, he is really finishing off his runs now, giving that little extra effort."

Putting in 100-percent effort is something that the highly recruited running back said comes easy.

"I always want to make sure I am doing everything I can out there on the field," he said. "If all my friends are out there giving their all, then I should be doing it, too."

With only Friday's championship game against Layton (2:30 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium) left in his high school career, Shakerin wants to go out on top.

"I know how disappointing it was last year, and I don't want to go through that again," said the team captain. "I feel the best I have all year, and I know that my teammates and I are going to leave it all out on the field."

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E-mail: mblack@desnews.com