- November 1, 2024
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West Orange running back Nemea Hall had a fitting game Thursday night to end a standout sophomore season.
Hall set two single-game program records, rushing for 332 yards and five touchdowns in a 70-32 victory over the Lyman Greyhounds in the Gergley Bowl at Showalter Field in Winter Park.
"I've never seen anything like it — I was completely blown away," Warriors head coach Bob Head said.
Four of those touchdown carries came in the first half, when the game was still relatively close and the result was still in question.
The numbers cap a season where Hall rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. Unofficially, West Orange coaches have Hall at 1,530 rushing yards — which would leave him just short of the single-season program record of 1,570, per team officials.
Head said that Hall did more than just run the ball well, too. The coaching staff has seen weekly improvements in his blocking abilities, and his ability to execute team's "wildcat" package was pivotal on many third downs and other situations throughout the fall.
"I think he's really been focused and he practices so hard — a year ago, I couldn’t say that," Head said. "He just really grew up ... 1,500 yards in 11 games — that’s pretty incredible."
Of course, being that Hall is just a sophomore, he will get two more chances to improve upon his staggering numbers from this fall in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
And, after that, Hall's head coach has a good feeling he'll be watching him on Saturday afternoons.
"I think that he is going to be a big-time college football player," Head said.