Trophy Talk
Being the feature back in a run-heavy offense is not the only thing Teddy Ruffner and Brian Kurn have both experienced.
Winning the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy is another common thread.
Ruffner is the latest recipient, piling up 152 points as a junior last fall. Kurn was the first player to win the trophy, scoring 104 points during his senior season in 1990.
“We made the WPIAL championship game the year before and getting back there was our focus, not individual accolades,” said Kurn, who lives in Freeport. “We had another really good team my senior year and there were a lot of games when the starters didn't play in the second half because the score was lopsided.”
Both backs had to bide their time before becoming the focal point of the offense. When Ruffner was a sophomore, senior teammate Garrett Reinke won the scoring title.
Kurn was a fullback his junior year, mainly throwing blocks for star halfback Jody White, who rushed for 1,000 yards three consecutive seasons before graduating in 1990.
“Jody helped me become a better player and my senior year, I helped Ron DeJidas (scoring trophy winner in 1991 and 1992),” Kurn said. “That's the way it worked. You had pride in the program and wanted to help the guys that would be the leaders after you were gone.”
By his senior campaign, Kurn stood 6-foot, 180 pounds and had more power than speed.
“Our system was set for me to have a big year running the ball. I remember games when we didn't pass the ball at all,” he added. “Our offensive line did a great job and that's not a cliche. They opened up so many holes, all I had to do was run through them.”
Kurn did not rest on the sidelines when Freeport played defense. He was a three-year starter at strong safety and his penchant for making big plays on both sides of the ball was evident in the regular-season finale against rival Jeannette in November 1990.
With the Allegheny Conference title on the line, he rushed for 117 yards on 18 attempts and scored on a 65-yard interception return in a 14-6 victory.
The Yellowjackets, who would go on to lose to Canevin in the district semifinals, allowed just 37 points in nine games in the regular season.
“We graduated a lot from the '89 team,” said Kurn. “We wanted to prove that we could still be a great defense. I don't know if we had any superstars, it just came down to trusting each other to take care of our assignments.”
Ruffner is no stranger to answering the bell defensively, either. The only reason he was not named first-team All-Conference at linebacker last year was because he was so honored on offense and players can't take up first-team spots on both sides of the ball.
“I take pride in playing middle linebacker because I'm in charge of getting the calls from the sideline and making adjustments,” he said. “I like the mental aspect of it.”
But running the football has been part of Ruffner's football identity since he began playing at the age of six.
Scoring touchdowns this season may not come with the same response from fans as before. Will they be allowed in the stands and if so, how many?
“It would be weird,” admitted Ruffner, “to score a touchdown and there's just (the sound of) crickets chirping. I think if at least some fans are allowed, that would make a difference.”
Either way, Ruffner is looking to do his part to help Mars play as deep into the season as possible. While the Planets have qualified for the postseason 15 straight seasons, their last playoff win came in 2015.
“We want to do better than in previous years,” he said. “I've worked more on running pass routes, getting things down with the quarterbacks. We want to be able to pass the ball. That will loosen defenses up when we decide to run.”
