Northwest Whitfield's Dominique Sistrunk (23) breaks into the Ringgold defense for a big gain on Aug. 19.Honorable mention
› Luke Shiflett, Northwest Whitfield: He completed 18 of 27 passes for 260 yards and three TDs, serving as part of the Bruins’ two-pronged attack in a win over Pickens County.› Markeith Montgomery, Ridgeland: He was one of three 100-yard rushers for the Panthers last week, gaining 186 yards on 12 carries and scoring three times in a win over Ridgeland.› Ethan Barker, Sequatchie County: He averaged 25.5 yards per carry (6-153) and scored two touchdowns as the unbeaten and second-ranked Indians defeated Cannon County.
Dominique Sistrunk developed a migraine headache and sat out part of the first quarter and all of the second as Northwest Whitfield and Pickens traded scores in a 91-point shootout Friday night.
He left the game with 179 rushing yards. He returned in the second half, and by the time the dust had settled from a 51-40 Northwest win, the sophomore had added another 96 yards. He finished the evening with 275 yards and three touchdowns.
That performance earned the 6-foot-2, 243-pounder the honor of Times Free Press Waffle House All-Star player of the week.
"In the last two weeks he's rushed for 561 yards with an 11-yard average (50 carries)," Bruins coach Josh Robinson said.
It is, for Sistrunk, simply a matter of stepping up his game when called upon.
He had been sharing time with Sebastian Orozco in the team's one-back, full-spread offense, but Orozco has been sidelined with a sprained AC joint the past two weeks.
"Those two guys shared the position. One game one would run for 50 and the other 75. The next week the numbers might be reversed," Robinson said before noting Sistrunk's showings the past two weeks. "He has broken three touchdown runs of more than 70 yards and also has another 50-yarder."
It helps that the offensive line has its share of veterans.
"Our offensive line has done a good job, and Dominique is deceptively fast. It's a tough situation for a defense and a defensive coach," Robinson added.
Sistrunk has shown the ability to glide through tackles down low and shrug off the up-high hits.
"He played at 226 (pounds) last year, and if he gets in the weight room like he did last year we're thinking he can get up around 260 and not lose any speed," Robinson said.
Yet even with the offensive line and the ability Sistrunk has shown, opponents are hard-pressed to focus their attentions on him. His quarterback, Luke Shiflett, has a top-flight arm but is also a legitimate run threat.
Shiflett has four scholarship offers already (Troy, Georgia Southern, Columbia, Mercer), and among those still talking with the junior are Marshall, Southern Miss, Mississippi State, Cincinnati, Ohio and Miami (Ohio) along with Georgia Tech.
Even in the one-back spread, numbers have been balanced and spread among Shiflett, Sistruck, Orozco and five talented receivers.
It's fair to say, though, that Sistrunk has done his share the past two weeks in leading wins against Heritage and Pickens. He has kept them in the midst of the playoff race.
"The way we have it figured, if we win one of the next two we'll be the No. 2 (region) seed," Robinson said.
Those two games - the final two of the regular season - are Gilmer this week and county rival Southeast Whitfield the next.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.