PREP FOOTBALL: Wooldridge pulls double-duty for Booneville

BOONEVILLE -- Ethan Wooldridge made the most of his starting opportunity on defense last year, leading Booneville in tackles.

With the team in need of a fullback this season, he has stepped up to that task as well. The senior fullback and linebacker might be a little undersized compared to those who have played those positions before him at Booneville, but what he lacks in size he more than makes up for it with his work ethic and passion.

"He doesn't get as many carries as a typical Booneville fullback, but he does everything we ask him to do," Booneville coach Doc Crowley said. "He is a little undersized being 160 or 170 soaking wet. But he plays like he is 190 or 200 pounds. It has been a pleasure to coach him. We are going to miss him, but we've got some important football still left to play."

Wooldridge (5-foot-8, 170 pounds) leads the team in tackles again this season with 53.5 to go along with 4.5 tackles for a loss and a pair of interceptions. He is also third on the team in rushing with 113 carries for 504 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Booneville (9-2) hosts Osceola (5-4) Friday at Bearcat Stadium in a second-round matchup in the Class 3A state playoffs.

Wooldridge played a big part in an opening-round playoff win against Hackett last week. He had 7.5 tackles, and he also carried the ball seven times for 54 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

"If we don't get the fullback established, a lot of teams can key in on our quarterback," Crowley said. "We challenged Ethan last week. He had some holes that he didn't hit kind of running with his head down in some recent games. He was better against Hackett, had his head up making some good cuts and runs. He did what he needed to do."

Finding the end zone hasn't been uncommon this year for Wooldridge. He is averaging a touchdown rush per game and has scored multiple touchdowns in three games, including in back-to-back efforts in the past two games.

Prior to this year, Wooldridge hadn't been asked to carry the ball a lot in his career. He had just 11 touches last season. The team had a great need with more than 60 percent of its rushing yards gone because of graduation entering the year.

Wooldridge played a key role from his linebacker spot a year ago though, as he had led the team with 53 tackles with two sacks and four tackles for a loss. His game on the offensive side has been taken to another level this season.

"I just try to be there for my teammates," Wooldridge said. "Everybody works so hard, so I don't want to let them down. I give it everything I got because I know they do the same for me. Being a Bearcat is everything. You can't go anywhere in town and not see or hear something about the football team.

"The community really supports us. The tradition is so deep. My dad and grandpa played here as well. It just means the world for me to play for Booneville."

Wooldridge, who averages 4.5 yards per carry, will be counted on even more with the injury to fellow senior Ty Goff, who tore his ACL in the final game of the regular season. Goff was having a standout season for the Bearcats. He had 62 carries for 739 yards and nine touchdowns.

"He absolutely will be a big part of our playoff run the rest of the way," Crowley said of Wooldridge. "He is going to have to take some extra carries for us. We probably will find some other ways to get him the ball. In our offense, they have to honor that fullback first. It makes everything else go when you can establish him. He is up for the challenge going forward."

Opposing defenses have their attention on Booneville junior quarterback Randon Ray -- and with good reason. Ray leads the team in rushing with 1,487 yards on 180 carries and also has a team-best 21 touchdowns. But having Wooldridge lined up behind Ray has worked out for the Bearcats whether he is needed for a carry or a block.

"It's his senior year, and he is making the most of it," Ray said. "Nobody works harder than that dude. He is deadly out of the backfield. You have to look out for him, too, because he is a weapon. We work really well as a group on offense and in the backfield. Everybody does their part."

Nothing has changed for Wooldridge on the defensive side, as he has been the anchor from his linebacker spot again. He has had his highest tackle totals of the season in the past two games.

"He is our leader on defense," Crowley said. "He makes all our calls on defense. He makes all the plays out there. He takes the pounding at the fullback spot then he jumps over there at linebacker. He does everything we ask of him plus some."