BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
If people were measured by the size of their
hearts, than Sudbury Northerners' running back Eric Ethier
would be a giant.
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A teammate's injury early in the
season resulted in Eric Ethier moving from wing back to
running back for the Sudbury Northerners. |
Ethier, 17, started the 2005 season as wing
back, but after an injury to starting running back Aaron Rehel,
he was thrust into the main role of carrying the Northerners
offensive charge.
Ethier has responded well to his new role. In
his first game as starting running back, Ethier gained 138
total yards and scored a touchdown. In his second game, Ethier
picked up 191 total yards and two touchdowns. Finally, this
past week, Ethier earned 182 total yards and another two
touchdowns.
At five-foot-six and 165-pounds, Ethier may
be diminutive by football standards, but his big heart is the
main reason he sits in second place for overall yards in the
Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) with 650 yards.
Ethier sees his small size as a distinct
advantage over his unsuspecting opponents.
"People underestimate me because of my size,"
said Ethier. "They think it's easy to take me down, but it's
not. Because I am short, people have to take me out at the
legs, but they basically have to get on their hands and knees
to do it. It's even harder when I am hunched over running. I
just keep going and never stop, no matter the pain I go
through. My size is a secret weapon."
Ethier gives full credit to his offensive
linemen for smashing bodies out of his way so he can run the
football into enemy territory.
"I just follow my offensive linemen," said
Ethier. "They block for me and they're very good at opening
holes. If it wasn't for them, I would be nothing."
Last season, Ethier was the Northerners
running back, but never gained 500 yards and scored only two
touchdowns.
Already this season, with two games left,
Ethier has racked up six touchdowns.
Coming of age is the key ingredient for
Ethier's successful transition back into the running back
position.
"Being running back last year, I knew what I
was in for this season," said Ethier. "I love running back. It
was natural to go back and I felt no pressure. In two games, I
probably passed my statistics from all last year. I am older
and more experienced and so is the team in front of me. The
whole team is playing better."
Ethier's feats aren't lost on the coaching
staff.
"Eric has performed extremely well, giving us
big yards and tremendous effort," said head coach Roger Sauve.
"His ability to change directions and make people miss stands
out. Eric sits second overall in the league with 650 yards.
This is impressive considering he didn't really get the ball in
the first two games."
Ethier and his teammates are looking for
respect.
"We want to prove our team is actual good and
make the playoffs," said Ethier. "In my first year, we couldn't
do anything. Now, our team is getting better and better. We
know we can do something here and it's a great feeling. Our
defence and offence just have to keep executing well. It's
never about one player, it's a team effort."
Ethier plans to attend Cambrian College this
fall and take the paramedic course because he likes helping
people.
The Northerners play the Niagara Spears this
Sunday, July 10. Game time at Queen's Athletic Field is 3
pm.
