Ethan Clark dominating the high school football scene
CLARKSTON, Mich. — A new star has burst onto the Michigan high school football scene. Clarkston High School junior running back Ethan Clark powered his team with a huge season. This young talent has surely made his sleepy northern Oakland County city take notice.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound bruiser leads the way for 8-1 Clarkston as they square off with their regional rival Oxford in a semifinal game on Friday night.
Clark’s third year turned into a total breakthrough for him. He brings a potent mix of power and speed on the field. In addition, Clark shows a real instinct for the game.
The proof can clearly be seen in his extraordinary totals registered this season: 151 carries for 1,496 yards rushing with 20 touchdowns. Clark averaged nearly 10 yards per carry, along with 240 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver. That includes the remarkable 337 yards and five touchdowns he recorded last week against Oak Park.
Those eye-catching numbers no doubt will attract major buzz.
There were signs that Clark would be a big playmaker from the beginning. He became the first freshman player to notch 100 yards during a varsity game in the school’s history.
Since then, Clark has only charged full speed ahead. He went on to lead the Wolves in rushing, both as a freshman and a sophomore. He reached 2,000 yards for his career in October.
“The difference from him this year and last year, last year he couldn’t run away from people,” Wolves head coach Kurt Richardson said. “This year, he’s running away from people. He’s gotten faster, and he’s turning that 40-yard gain into a 70-yard touchdown.”
Even though Clarkston is a smaller community, it happens to be a high school football hotbed. The Wolves have won three Division I state football titles over the past 9 years, which includes back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2014.
And apparently, they are looking to add more.
“We’re a really good team,” Clark said. “We lost a lot of guys last year, but we just rebuild.”
The bruising ball carrier also has the full attention of his home state. Clark is now believed to be in consideration for Michigan high school football Player of the Year, a prestigious honor. Just the fact that he could be seriously considered for the award is a great compliment.
As for what is next, that is to be determined. At last check, Clark has received three Division I scholarship offers. All of them have come from mid-major schools, including Bowling Green University, Marshall University and University of Toledo.
He recently took a recruiting trip to Michigan State University. After such a sensational season, it seems almost anything is possible.
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