By Lisa Byers
EDINBORO — Edinboro punter Ryan Genco wore a T-shirt at practice Wednesday afternoon that said on the back, “The difference between winning and losing is this small,” followed by an illustration of a tiny heart set between two fingers.
There may not be a more poignant way to describe Edinboro running back Michael Battles.
Battles, listed at 5-foot-7, 180 pounds, lacks the typical stature of a college running back. But what Battles lacks in size he makes up for with heart.
“I’ve been doubted my whole life with people saying, ‘He’s too small or he’s too slow,’” Battles said. “But I just play with heart. I play as if I’m the biggest and fastest guy out there. I play with a chip on my shoulder. I just replay in the back of my mind how I’ve been doubted my entire life because of my height and go out there and have fun.”
It’s an attitude the Fighting Scots have needed out of Battles this year more than any other.
Coming into the 2009 season, the Scots felt strongly about their depth at running back; something that had not happened in several years. But in a matter of weeks, the depth the coaches were so excited about began to disappear as the Fighting Scots were getting set to begin their run at an NCAA Division II championship.
The Scots had already lost their No. 1 guy in Junior Jabbie, a highly touted transfer from Notre Dame and Delaware. Jabbie missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury then broke his foot in Week 6 against Lock Haven and has been sidelined ever since.
That allowed David Bostic, second on the depth chart, to take over the starting position. And Bostic, who returned to the Scots this season after a one-year absence, responded by earning all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference second-team honors. Bostic, however, was hit by the injury bug during the first half of the Scots’ regular season finale against Millersville and was unable to play in the Scots’ opening round NCAA Division II playoff win over East Stroudsburg on Saturday.
That opened the door for the underestimated Battles, running back No. 3 on the Scots’ initial depth chart, in the Scots’ biggest game since 2004. And just like every other time his number has been called, Battles was ready; ready, once again, to prove his naysayers wrong.
Battles finished the game with 104 yards of total offense. He ran for 59 yards on nine carries and caught seven passes for another 45 yards. He was also responsible for the Scots’ biggest offensive play, a 51-yard run in the fourth quarter that set up a first down and goal from the East Stroudsburg 4-yard line that allowed Edinboro to run out the clock.
It was a performance head coach Scott Browning pretty much expected out of the sophomore.
“He is the epitome of a team guy,” he said. “There are times he would go into a game and not get one rep at running back. But he would try to find a way to help the football team win on special teams. Anyway possible, Michael Battles is always going to be ready. He’s always going to know his assignments. He’s never going to hurt you with the mental errors.
“He’ll go out there and give you everything he has. He is a true team player.”
It’s just another way for Battles to prove the small guy can get the job done. Clarion’s Alfonso Hoggard did a good job of that as well this season. Hoggard, listed at 5-foot-4, 150-pounds, was the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Offensive Player of the Year.
“I think it gives short guys a good name,” Battles said. “If we can do it here, you can do it anywhere. Look in the NFL. You have two of the best small running backs in (Darren) Sproles and (Maurice) Jones-Drew and they’re probably among the top 10 best running backs in the league right now. That kind of gives us information that we can come out here and do it.”
Of course, as it seems every week, there is some question as to whether Battles will be able to continue to spread that word this week against West Liberty. Battles suffered a knee injury against Millersville and re-aggravated that injury last week in the first half against East Stroudsburg. Battles did not practice Wednesday and will receive results from an MRI today.
Browning said he expects Battles to play on Saturday as well as Bostic.
“We’re like a lot of teams right now,” Browning said. “This is the 13th week of the season. We’re banged up. If you’re not banged up it probably means you’re not playing an awful lot or playing very hard. I think it’s normal. I think we’ll get some good mileage out of Battles come Saturday.”
In either case, Browning expects someone to be ready to step up as Battles has done all season long.
“When you look at it going into the season, Michael Battles was our third guy with David Bostic and Junior Jabbie,” he said. “It’s amazing how fast you can be the No. 1 guy. We continue to tell Michael that.
“It’s like all the players, you tell them to hang in there and their time will come.
“You never get through a season with two running backs and I’m not convinced you can get through with just three.”
Lisa Byers can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at lbyers@meadvilletribune.com.
