Overdorf continues to break records

It was almost one year to the date.

Then junior Matt Overdorf boarded the bus to Huntingdon, hoping to spark Central Mountains 2007 campaign.

Four touchdowns and 250-plus yards later, he did just that. CM won its last four games, and closed that season with a 6-4 record.

That set the scene for last night.

The Wildcats, losing its last two, were 3-3 - clawing against teams like Erie McDowell, Altoona and DuBois for playoff positioning.

Again, the blue and white needed that spark.

Guess who was there?

Overdorf finished with two touchdowns and almost 170 yards on the ground, putting Central Mountain right back in the mix for a high seed in the upcoming playoffs.

Although the now senior is all about the team, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this game was about you.

It was Senior Night at Central Mountain.

It was also a record-breaking night for Overdorf.

He sits at 1,830 rushing yards for his career. It's a new career rushing record, eclipsing the mark of Lee Perryman from 1999-2000.

The mark even amazes him.

Ask Overdorf if he thought he would be the leading rusher in the history of Central Mountain two years ago?

He won't lie.

"I wouldn't have believed you. I didn't know if I could do something like that," he smiled. "But it's great that I did."

The feat, pardon the pun, is like a broken record.

Literally.

He's also snapped several this season; too many to count on one hand.

Points scored in game. Career points score. Rushing touchdowns in a career. Rushing touchdowns in a season.

And yes, there are some that I have missed.

Yet, there is something special about becoming the school's leading career rusher.

"You don't think about it when you are on the field at all," he said. "There is nothing to think about really. I just want to get as many yards as I can and help the team win. After, then it starts to hit because it's a good feeling that you were able to break a record."

Overdorf had big shoes to fill.

He took over for Ryan Maggs, who was a 1,000-yard rusher himself.

But the coaching staff knew the capability he had.

They also realized his talent.

"Ovie was been a great kid ever since I've known him," CM head coach Steve Turchetta said. "He's a workhorse. Without (Scott) Zuback, we were counting on him. I told him before we got into this game that he was going to have to carry the load."

It was no sweat.

"There was a lot of big holes. You have to give credit to the line because they did a great job," Overdorf said. "They were just firing off the ball. It was amazing. Everything just kind of opened up at once."

Right now, he's rushed for 100-plus yards in four consecutive games - five in 2008.

He's also closing in on that 1,000-yard milestone.

The Wildcats are also closing strong.

Honestly, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Central Mountain could climb as high as No. 2 in the District 6-8-9-10 subregional. With a loss by Erie McDowell, CM gains ground. Altoona also lost, meaning the Mountain Lions didn't close the gap between that fourth and fifth spot.

Remember DuBois? Their final three games? Perry Traditional Academy. Erie Strong Vincent. Hollidaysburg. A combined two losses.

Forget about the postseason, everyone insists.

Overdorf is just concerned about the present.

Walking off the turf at Hubert Jack Stadium, he received his congratulatory handshakes from Turchetta and former long-time equipment manager John Wert.

He stopped to slap some hands, and pose for a quick picture.

"This is a great feeling, I'm not going to lie," he laughed.

You know the way it is.

He'll enjoy it today, maybe even part of Sunday.

Come Monday at 3 p.m., it's back to business.

Indian Valley is next.

Tom Fox is sports editor at The Express and covers Central Mountain football. He can be reached at tfox@lockhaven.com