All-NWA Media Football: Position Change, Injuries No Problem For Saucier

 Staff Photo J.T. Wampler Joey Saucier of Rogers Heritage is the 2014 All-NWA Media Offensive Player of the Year.
Staff Photo J.T. Wampler Joey Saucier of Rogers Heritage is the 2014 All-NWA Media Offensive Player of the Year.

ROGERS -- It might be hard to believe looking at his stats, but Rogers Heritage running back Joey Saucier wasn't 100 percent healthy for the majority of the 2014 football season.

The 6-foot, 198-pound speedster racked up more than 1,200 yards rushing, almost 500 yards receiving and 250 more in the return game, despite missing two full games because of injuries. Those numbers show exactly why he was honored as the All-NWA Media Offensive Player of the Year.

All-NWA Media Offensive Player of the Year

Name: Joey Saucier

School: Rogers Heritage

Class: Senior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 198

Notable: Earned all-state and all-conference honors as a senior after moving from receiver to running back this season. … He rolled up more than 1,200 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, despite missing two full games because of injuries, to go with 483 yards on 30 receptions and four more touchdowns and 250 return yards. … Has verbally committed to play football at Air Force.

Heritage coach Perry Escalante said when he was healthy, Saucier delivered exactly what he expected and more since he moved from receiver to tailback for his senior season.

"When he was completely healthy, he was outstanding," Escalante said. "Now, he didn't play very many games this year that he was completely healthy. He got hurt in the first game against Olathe and probably wasn't really 100 percent until maybe Little Rock Central."

Saucier showed what what his coach was talking about with a monster game at Little Rock Central,, leading Heritage to its second playoff victory in school history. He accounted for more than 300 yards of total offense (175 rushing, 92 receiving, 50 return) and four touchdowns in the War Eagles' win.

Fort Smith Southside coach Jeff Williams is a believer, even though his Rebels held Saucier to a season-low six yards in Heritage season-ending loss. However, that was the second time Southside faced Saucier. The senior running back enjoyed better numbers to the tune of 157 yards rushing on just 16 carries and a touchdown.

Williams took special notice and was determined to focus his defense on Saucier the second time to slow him down.

"We had a hard time tackling him the first time," Williams said. "He's a very physical runner. The second time we were determined to stop number 28."

Southside accomplished Williams' goal of shutting down Saucier on the ground, but the strategy nearly backfired as Heritage shredded the Rebels' pass defense for 364 yards through the air, but came up just short.

Williams said that's a danger of focusing on one player, but also something that makes Saucier great.

"He makes everyone else around him better,' Williams said. "He did that. We did things to take him away, but others hurt us. That was because of the attention we were paying to him."

Saucier is a great blend of power and speed, Williams said.

"I think he's the total package," Williams said. "He's strong and powerful, but with great speed and he can catch the ball out of the backfield."

Saucier was pleased with what he was able to do, despite not being healthy much of the year. But he's also looking forward to the future in track.The senior is one of the top sprinters in the state.

"I'm looking forward to track. We're going to jump 25 (feet) this year," said Saucier, the Meet of Champions winner in the long jump as a junior. "

He's verbally committed to the Air Force Academy and said he will sign with the Falcons in February. Saucier understands what the commitment to play at Air Force means.

"I went up there for a recruitment day and am planning to go on a visit in January," Saucier said. "I'm a very logical person. I like to have structure. Honestly, I've been yelled at all my life. Being yelled at isn't a problem. The only thing that could be different is working at in altitude."

Sports on 12/21/2014

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