La Salle’s Amon Milliner has put himself in rare air. His rushing numbers through six games will likely surpass the season totals of 95-percent of fellow high school running backs in the state. Milliner has already rushed for 1,293 yards and 15 touchdowns in the Lancers first six games, despite the fact that opponents continually […]
Amon Milliner
La Salle’s Amon Milliner has put himself in rare air.
His rushing numbers through six games will likely surpass the season totals of 95-percent of fellow high school running backs in the state.
Milliner has already rushed for 1,293 yards and 15 touchdowns in the Lancers first six games, despite the fact that opponents continually stack the box in the hopes of shutting the star senior down.
To accurately put these rushing numbers in perspective, compare Milliner’s individual stats to the team totals of his Angelus League rivals.
Salesian is closest with 923 total yards by all its running backs combined.
Amon and teammates watching game
St. Francis is next at 805 yards rushing, then Harvard-Westlake (755), St. Paul (667) and undefeated Cathedral at 483.
The Lancers (4-2 overall, 0-1 in league) will need their speedster in top form Friday night more than ever, as Angelus League power Cathedral (6-0, 1-0) comes to town at 7 p.m.
He averages 215 yards per game and has rushed for over 100 yards in all six games, which is the gold standard for running backs.
“Amon is not only a great player, he is a great kid,” La Salle coach Russell Gordon said. “He does things I’ve never seen in my 13 years as a head coach. He is among the top running backs in the San Gabriel Valley, if not the top, I’d have to say.’ He is quick, strong, smart and has the durability to carry the ball 36 times in a high-pressured game.”
In his career at La Salle, Milliner has gained over 3,000 yards, scored 31 times and has 16 games in which he’s eclipsed the 100-yard mark.
La Salle quarterback Jake Caan has thrown for almost 1,000 yards and 10 TD passes, and has a front-row view of Milliner’s heroics.
“Amon is by far the best all-around athlete I’ve ever been around,” Caan said. “He is crazy fun to watch and he is the most humble kid you will ever meet. It is near impossible to keep this kid under 150 yards a game, and at least two scores. There is a reason why he is the MVP of our league.”
While Milliner might stand just 5-foot-7.
His football presence is very large, he’s deceptively strong and deserves the chance to play somewhere at the next level.
Milliner credits lineman Noel Beltran, Ryan Sparks, Daniel Cina, JT Young, Jimmy Brooks and Carlos Rico for much of his success, but when pushed to answer what he does that works, Milliner opened up a little.
“I have good balance and have heart,” he said. “I don’t want to go down easy and challenge them to take me down. I wanted to prove that last year’s numbers (1,442 yards, 13 TDs) weren’t luck. But numbers aren’t what matters to me. I care about wins and we’ve lost two games that I think we could have won.”
Perhaps the number Milliner is most proud to be part of is that he and his teammates are a program on the rise.
The Lancers continue to win more games than the previous season, and have already won as many games in 2016 than they did a season ago.
They are currently ranked No. 5 in the Oct. 10 CIF-Southern Section Division 9 poll.
La Salle has yet to win an Angelus League game in its two-plus seasons in the league.
But it’s almost a certainty that Milliner and the Lancers will break into the win column over the final four weeks of the regular season, especially considering they play three of the four at home.
“If we don’t make the playoffs, I think we’ll all consider it a disappointment, because we are a senior-heavy group of guys with a lot of character and we’ve worked extremely hard.
Despite dropping last Friday’s league opener at St. Francis, Milliner left his mark with 245 yards and three TD runs. He would have had 4 TDs and over 300 yards rushing had a holding penalty not been called 30 yards behind the play.
Milliner left quite the impression on the Golden Knights.
“Amon is a very good running back,” St. Francis coach Jim Bonds said. “His combination of speed, size and strength makes him very tough to tackle. He can run over you, or around you and then run by you. I was very impressed by him.”
Milliner’s Rise To Greatness By The Numbers:
Senior year: 138 carries for 1, 293 yards and 15 TDs (through six games)
Junior year: 172 carries for 1,442 yards and 13 TDs
Sophormore: 90 carries for 449 yards and 3 TDs
Getting To Know Amon:
Favorite Player: Barry Sanders
Favorite TV Show: Supernatural (Netflix)
Favorite Musical Artist: Mek Hills
Favorite Football Team: Los Angeles Rams
Most Surprising To Find On His Ipod: The Fugees
Quotables:
“Amon is hard working on and off the field. He is very disciplined in his work ethic and that really shows during the games. He’s really fun to be around, and adds a playful aspect to the team,” La Salle linebacker Jake Rose.
“I think his strength is underestimated, because everyone looks at his speed. He’s known to be a small and speedy guy, but he’s hard to bring down,” St. Francis star receiver/safety Daniel Scott.
“Amon is selfless. He never stops working from the start to finishing games. He never talks about his own success and brings a lot of determination and humility,” La Salle receiver Harrison MacDonald.
“Amon reminds me a lot of JD Washington (son of actor Denzel Washington) who I coached at Campbell Hall, but Amon is quicker. We’ve built a close relationship and I look forward to continuing that after he’s gone and playing on Saturday’s,” La Salle coach Russell Gordon.
On being humble: “I don’t like to flash out all of my accomplishments, because this isn’t about me. I couldn’t have done this without my teammates and lineman, especially. We’ve become very close and anything we accomplish, we do it together and as a team.” Amon Milliner.
La Salle’s Remaining Regular Season Schedule: (all games at 7 p.m.)
Oct. 14 vs. Cathedral
Oct. 21 vs. St. Paul
Oct. 28: vs Harvard-Westlake
Nov. 4: at Salesian
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