JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
Just call him big-game Ben.
Columbia running back Ben Guiles ran wild in the Crimson Tide’s 38-21 non-league victory at Garden Spot last Friday night.
The 5-11, 170-pound senior rushed for 292 yards — just eight yards shy of tying the school record — and scored four touchdowns, as Columbia improved to 2-0 overall.
Guiles’ TD runs covered 3, 34, 60 and 67 yards, respectively. And his final five carries of the game included the 67-yard TD, a 49-yard run, an 8-yard pickup, the 3-yard TD and the 34-yard TD.
For the record, that’s 161 yards and three TDs in five attempts.
For his efforts, Guiles is the New Era Player of the Week.
“Ben has always had big-play capability, ever since he came to the varsity as a sophomore,” Columbia coach Jason Shoff said.
“He’s always had someone else around him in the backfield, like Damien Seals the last couple of years. But his year, Ben has really stepped up and taken that leadership role.”
Through two games, Guiles is the L-L League’s leading rusher with 398 yards and he’s scored a league-high seven touchdowns.
And Monday, he tackled the New Era’s 5 Questions:
WHY SO SUCCESSFUL AGAINST GARDEN SPOT?
“I was able to bounce outside and I was able to get up the field. I got some great blocks, and the holes really started to open up, especially in the second half, and it sort of took off from there. We were able to run a lot of play-action pass plays, and that set up our isolation running plays.”
SPEAKING OF BLOCKING, INTRODUCE YOUR OFFENSIVE LINEMEN TO US AND THROW A BONE TO THOSE GUYS, OK?
“Alright, we have Kevin McCarty at left tackle, Aaron Rupp at left guard, Brian Groff is the center, Rafael Mendez is the right guard, Bobby Schoelkopf is the right tackle and Don Thompson is the tight end.
Those guys did really well. They all covered their men, and they didn’t make any mistakes. I never got the ball and had somebody right in my face. I thanked them for it after the game. It’s because of them that I’m answering these questions. Oh yeah, the fullback, Derrick Armold, he had a big part in it, too. He led me where I needed to go.”
SECTION 3 PLAY GETS STARTED NEXT WEEK. WITHOUT OVERLOOKING YOUR LAST NON-LEAGUE GAME, ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LEAGUE RACE?
“We can’t wait. It’s going to be a great race. We can’t wait to get started playing those guys. It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s always neck-and-neck, and I know everybody usually picks Lancaster Catholic to win it. But I think we have a really good shot to win it this year. We just want to come out and do what we have to do, and hopefully we come out on top.”
YOU PLAY GUITAR AND PIANO IN THE CONCERT BAND, AND YOU ALSO PLAY BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL. WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR COLLEGE?
“Whew, I don’t know. I’m going to go to college for music production, and after that, I’ll see what happens. Maybe I can get a (sports) scholarship for one of those. I’ll certainly take what I can get. Lebanon Valley College has music production, and they’re recruiting me for football. So we’ll see what happens.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT?
“Hmmm, I’d say Arby’s on 462 in Mountville. I think their roast beef sandwiches are the best.”
