Titus Phillips entered his final season of high school football with 18 career rushing attempts, 73 yards and afterthought status when it came time to rattle off Johnson County’s better running backs.
What a difference seven weeks makes.
With a county-leading 758 yards, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Franklin senior has rapidly made a name for himself as the Grizzly Cubs prepare to host Greenwood tonight.
The massive leap in productivity is attributed to an assortment of factors – namely Phillips’ offseason improvement, the Franklin offense gradually adapting a two-back set and, yes, those manning the line of scrimmage whose job it is to block.
“I am a little bit surprised, but I work hard. I’m more experienced and more confident when I’m running the football,” said Phillips, whose ability to hit the corners and occasionally make defenders miss complements junior back John Shepard, who at 6-2 and 210 pounds features a more straight-ahead style.
“I always believed I would get an opportunity. I just waited my turn.”
Only three games were needed for Phillips to more than double his previous career rushing yards. In Week 4, however, is when the faucet handle was rotated as far to the right as it would go — a 40-carry, 209-yard, four-touchdown performance in Franklin’s 35-21 defeat of Whiteland.
Phillips, who toted the rock 13 times in each of the first three outings, has averaged 28 rushing attempts and 144.5 yards over the past four games.
“Titus has always shown great vision and runs hard,” Grizzly Cubs coach Chris Coll said. “It’s just trying to figure out what’s best for our offense, and what’s best is having John and Titus on the field at the same time. They’re both very effective in what they do.
“Titus is a competitive kid who plays hard and likes to contribute.”
Shepard’s blocking as either the up back or tight end is a key; likewise for the work of left tackle Reece Byerly, left guard Jackson Henry, center Conner Voris, right guard Danny Groves and right tackle Jake Trueblood.
Like any good back, Phillips is quick to point an appreciative finger toward those doing the dirty work.
“The offensive line has been blocking great all year,” Phillips said. “It means a lot because it gives me confidence and time to see the field.”
Franklin has the opportunity to inch closer to the .500 mark with tonight’s game against Greenwood and by traveling to Mid-State Conference front-runner Decatur Central in next week’s regular-season finale.
Hardly easy endeavors, but chances to build momentum with the postseason looming.
The annual tournament pairings will be conducted starting Sunday afternoon. The Grizzly Cubs, whose lone sectional title came in 1984, again have their work cut out as part of a Class 5A sectional with traditional powers New Palestine, Whiteland and Columbus East — though they do already have that Week 4 win over the Warriors to their credit.
With hopes of winning that sectional very much alive, individual milestones such as a possible 1,000-yard season were shoved into the background weeks ago.
“I’m not worried about yards. I’m worried about winning,” Phillips said. “As a team, we take it one week at a time and try to get better for the playoffs.”
