MARYSVILLE — Hurt or not, Marysville Getchell junior running back Collin Montez keeps trucking.
In his last game, Montez rushed for 134 yards and scored a touchdown leading the Chargers to a 31-12 win over Everett Oct 16. As a result, he is the Marysville Globe-Arlington Times Athlete of the Week.
“I do what I’m told and go as hard as I can every play,” Montez said.
That focus has got him to rush for 532 all-purpose yards this season, playing primarily as running back but also middle linebacker, punt and kick returner and occasionally as quarterback. Last season, he led the league in the rushing with more than 2,000 yards.
MG coach Davis Lura expected those yards to be at about 1,000 this year had it not been for his injury in week two against Arlington.
“When it first happened he had tears in his eyes so I knew it was hurting,” Lura said. “And he still wanted to play. The games he was missing were very frustrating for him.”
Montez is big, strong and fast. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds he is ideal at his position to deliver a heavy blow as a running back.
“He can lay a hit on the defense without him taking the blow — gets him extra yards,” Lura said.
With his ankle not hurting anymore, he feels confident in helping his team finish the season strong.
“Our goal now is to not lose another game,” Montez said. “And to do that we need to practice hard and do our job.”
“As an individual in the game he will get the yards but also builds confidence for our players,” Lura said. “He’s a great leader.”
He also stars on MG’s baseball and basketball team — a rare three-spot letterman in today’s high school sports world.
Montez has an “uncanny” football ability and “IQ” that allows him to be a versatile player, Lura said.
In one instance, Montez had to step in to play quarterback in MG’s first game against Auburn Riverside because starter Taylor Koellmer was injured. MG won that game 29-26 Sept. 4.
Taylor’s younger brother, Caleb — a freshman — now starts as quarterback.
“[Caleb] was just learning the offense so he didn’t start the first couple of games,” Montez said. “Now he’s getting it and doing a good job.”
Though he is getting invites from NCAA Division I schools, Montez doesn’t have a preference on a school yet.
Lura thinks he can play baseball, football and basketball at the college level. He can throw a 90 mph fastball, and is athletic enough to play basketball, Lura said.
Like all sports, it requires “discipline, giving it your 100 percent and going hard,” Montez said.
