Certain Scorer Ruffner steady TD-maker during tumultuous high school football season
ADAMS TWP — In a season of uncertainty, Teddy Ruffner remained elite.
Mars' senior fullback closed his football career with another superb effort, rushing for 1,570 yards, 23 touchdowns and claiming the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy for the second consecutive year with 144 points.
The performance came during a shortened season. Due to the coronavirus, WPIAL teams played just seven games in the regular season instead of the usual nine.
Each week, there was the threat of grid programs having to shut down due to possible exposures. Ruffner is grateful that didn't happen at Mars.
“Every game was another opportunity for me to play football with my friends,” he said. “If anything, I had more of an appreciation for this year. We almost had it taken away from us.”
The Planets ran the ball over 80 percent of the time and Ruffner was called on to batter opposing defenses 200 times this fall. He responded by gaining nearly eight yards per attempt.
“It was no secret we were going to run the ball, but I don't shy away from that and was always up for that challenge, ” said Ruffner. “Defenses always had eight or nine guys in the box, but we expected that and prepared for it.”
Ruffner reached at least 200 yards rushing in five games this year. His best game came against Knoch when he chewed up 305 yards and scored six touchdowns.
“We had some injuries on the offensive line this season and a lot of guys were in the mix. Considering how young we were there, I thought the line played very well. I attribute a lot of my success to them,” Ruffner said.
Ruffner also scored a touchdown on a 98-yard kickoff return against Highlands and starred all season on defense as an inside linebacker. He helped the Planets qualify for the WPIAL playoffs for the 16th straight season, a winning tradition he does not take lightly.
Individually, he finished with 4,468 rushing yards in his varsity career — just 235 yards shy of breaking the school record of 4,702, held by 2008 graduate Bill Bair.
“I knew I was getting close,” Ruffner said. “People were talking about it, asking me, 'Do you think you'll get it?'
“I tried not to focus on it much.”
Ruffner received attention from colleges for both football and baseball. He is a standout catcher on the diamond for the Planets and recently chose to play baseball at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Though his football career is over, the sport has left Ruffner with indelible memories.
“I was healthy and able to contribute all four years,” he said. “It was a great experience.”
