Dyer goes straight to top

LR Christian RB shines in spotlight of record pursuit

Michael Dyer (left) and Zach Hocker.
Michael Dyer (left) and Zach Hocker.

— Michael Dyer’s direct impact on Little Rock Christian’s football program stretches 1 only a little more than 4/2 miles.

That’s the distance the senior tailback traveled - 8,097 yards to be precise - to become the state’s all-time leading rusher.

As for the perks, well, Dyer’s almost larger-than-life status brought national televisioncameras to the private school for the first time this fall, and his push toward the rushing record helped fuel a recent movement for an artificial playing surface and renovations to cozy Warrior Field.

No. 5, it seems, is No. 1 on any footballrelated subject at Little Rock Christian.

“You can’t underestimate what he’s meant to this school,” Warriors Coach Justin Kramer said.

Dyer, who closed out his record-setting career with 2,502 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns on 295 carries, is the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Offensive Player of the Year.

Dyer, 5-9, 205 pounds, rushed for at least 100 yards in all 12 games and helped the Warriors reach the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs.

Dyer began the season with 5,595 rushing yards and needed 1,528 to break the career record set by Vernon Hicks, who ran for 7,122 yards from 1996-1998 at Elaine.

Dyer drew within 28 yards of the record when he carried 29 times for 186 yards in

a 50-33 loss to Camden Fairview on

Oct. 16 at Warrior Field.

Heavy rain had left conditionsat Warrior Field treacherous, and they weren’t much better the following week when Little Rock Christian hosted Hot Springs Lakeside before an overflow crowd.

There was little suspense, however.

Dyer broke the record on his fourth carry - a 22-yard touchdown run with 6:57 remaining in the first quarter.

Even without playing as a freshman, when he rushed for 901 yards, Dyer still would have broken Hicks’ record by almost 100 yards.

“He’s always been hard to tackle,” Kramer said. “But there were times he was almost impossible to tackle this year because he got so much stronger. His work ethic this off-season was unbelievable. He got so much stronger, but he didn’t lose any speed.”

Dyer rushed for five touchdowns against Lakeside to equal a career high.

Needing a victory to make the playoffs, Dyer responded with 235 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-21 victory over Pulaski Academy on Nov. 6 at Warrior Field.

The game was televised live nationally by ESPNU, which rates Dyer the country’s No. 1 running back.

“There is no doubt that he is one of the best running backs that we have seen in several years,” said Mike Morrison, an assistant at former 5A-Southwest rival Pulaski Robinson. “Little Rock Christian was very tough to game plan for and defend with Dyer and all the other offensiveweapons they had.”

During a news conference Nov. 6 at Little Rock Christian, Dyer announced his oral commitment to Auburn and was presented an honorary game jersey for the Under Armour All-America Bowl game to be held Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

The game, which has lured approximately 100 of the country’s top seniors, will be televised live by ESPN.

Kramer will coach Dyer and other running backs as an assistant for the White team.

The “working vacation” comes a little more than a year after Kramer was promoted from offensive coordinator when Johnny Watson announced his retirement from coaching.

Among other things, Kramer inherited the state’s most sought-after recruit, a player chasing the state’s all-time rushing record, and a lot of demands from the media.

“Honestly, it was dream,” Kramer said. “I mean that sincerely. Just being the head football coach itself is an amazing dream come true. Being able to experience something most will never get to, and I more than likely never will get to again, it was just something that truly has been an honor.

“It was stressful at times and maybe a little overwhelming. But it was definitely a fun ride, for sure.”

Dyer’s ride has meant so much that Little Rock Christian is discussing retiring his number because of his towering achievements, Kramer said.

“I think something, if it’s not something of that magnitude or just an appreciation of him and respect for him and what he’s done for our school, is definitely worthwhile,” Kramer said. “I’m not sure what that will be. But when you’ve had a program for eight years and he’s been the running back for four of them - half of our football life, basically - and on top of that he’s broken the all-time rushing record by almost 1,000 yards, that’s really, really special.”

Sports, Pages 25 on 12/27/2009

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