By Scott Puryear
Goodwell, Okla. — After starting the 2009 football season just a bit slowly (for him), Oklahoma Panhandle State sophomore running back Darryl Brister has exploded for over 360 yards rushing over the last two games and has been moving up rapidly in the NCAA Division II national individual performance rankings.
In statistics released this week by the NCAA, Brister ranks 25th nationally in rushing with a 97.0 yards per game average, and 13th in the country in all-purpose running (167.6 yards per game). His all-purpose total also puts him in the top spot among players who compete for independent teams (NCAA Division II schools who do not belong to a conference).
Of Brister, Aggie head coach Mike Wyatt said, “He puts it all on the line on every play and his talent is coming through.” Brister is a soft spoken 5’9, 200-pound dynamo from New Orleans, and there are few college athletes anywhere in better physical condition.
As a team, the Aggies currently stand at 29th in the country with a per game team rushing average of 185 yards and Wyatt gives a great deal of the credit to a continually improving group of offensive linemen.
Brister, his up and coming group of linemen, and the rest of the Aggies will be in action this Saturday at the annual Homecoming game — this year against Southwestern College. The Aggies will start their pregame warm-ups at noon and prior to the game, they will be wearing special old time jerseys and leather helmets to commemorate the 90th year of Aggie football.
All former OPSU football players are specially invited back to the contest and are asked to register at the front gate of Carl Wooten Field no later than 12:15 p.m. The opening kickoff is set for 1:00.
For those who cannot attend the game, fans in the Goodwell-Guymon area can listen to all the action live on KPSU radio (91.7 FM). An internet broadcast is also available — log on to www.opsu.edu and click on “Athletics” to find the link.
