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32 j)nftrprnfrrtil-3fnurmil.Tuesday, October 12, 1976(Sketch by Jack LuceyiMark WestonCarrying on the running tradition at San MarinPrep of weekWeston carryingonMarin traditionBy David EinsteinSan Marin has always turned out fine running backs, and Mark Weston is carrying on the tradition in a big way.Last Saturday, the 5-foot-ll, 165-pound senior halfback singlehanded-ly crushed the Tamalpais Indians as he gained unofficially 255 yards in 17 carries and scored a touchdown in spearheading a 24-0 Mustang rout.That performance earned Weston recognition as the Independent-Jour-nal’s Prep of the Week. His only competition for the award was San Rafael defensive back Jeff Mallett, who ran back a pair of interceptions for 53 and 57 yards in a 12-6 victory over Drake.Weston has all the desired qualities of a top back — 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash and enough strength to go through people when he can’t go around them.“If I can I’d like to fake them out,” he says, “but if I can’t I’ll run over them. I’m not afraid to hit.”Weston is alone among Marin County Athletic League backs in his ability to run inside or outside with equal authority. Most of his big games come on plays where he picks his own holes.“Usually there's a good block and I cut it off,” he says.Blowing through holes created by linemen Jim Janisen, Mike Dieck-mann, Ernie Galliani and Russ Nash, Weston ran for 216 yards against Tam in the first half alone. Coach John Treu chose to use him sparingly in the second half, by which time the Mustangs had the game in hand.“I would have liked to see how I could have done in the second half, but we won and that’s what counts,” says Weston.On his longest run Saturday, which went for 86 yards and a touchdown, Weston started off-tac-kle and all of a sudden, “there was just a big hole. Doar (halfback Mark Doar) gave me a lead block, and it was right there.”The one thing that worried Weston on that play was that San Marin would be called for a penalty, as happened in a pre-season game when he had a long TD run called back.“I prayed there wouldn’t be a flag,” he said.Treu says of Weston’s performance Saturday, “I knew he was capable of it . . . He’s a sprinter and he’s very strong. He hit the weights last year and during the summer. A couple of times, like on the 86-yard run, he broke tackles at the line of scrimmage.”Having evolved from a second-string back a year ago to one of the top threats in the MCAL, Weston now must shoulder much of the burden of trying to lead the Mustangs to the championship. Treu is going to rely on* him heavily, and other teams will key on him.“It’s going to be tough,’’ says Weston.Weston has also played defensive back, although he worked only on offense against Tam. In the spring, he takes his speed out to the track and runs sprints and relays for the San Marin track team.
Newspaper Details
San Rafael Independent Journal
San Rafael, California, US
Tue, Oct 12, 1976
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
John W.
USA 30 Dec 2020
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