Keegan Fuller 'nothing but productive' for CMR football team
The C.M. Russell High football team knew it had something special in Keegan Fuller going back to his sophomore season.
Despite having last season end before it even began with a broken collarbone in the team scrimmage, Rustlers head coach Dennis Morris was confident the tailback would be poised to step right back in this fall.
“We knew he was going to be ready and be a dude,” Morris said. “So, we’ve leaned really hard on Keegan and he’s been nothing but productive.”
Fuller and CMR (1-3 Eastern AA, 3-3 overall) play host to Bozeman High (4-0, 6-0) for Homecoming Friday at Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.
The junior Fuller is leading the Eastern AA in rushing and is second in Class AA overall through six games with 626 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
With fellow running back Kaiden Clement needed on both sides of the ball at defensive end, the Rustlers have asked Fuller to carry a heavy load. Also second in the state in attempts, Fuller has broken 100 yards in four games this year, going for 157 against Belgrade and 164 last week at Billings Skyview.
“The O-line is doing really good. I rely on those guys a lot,” Fuller said. “They definitely help me out quite a bit. Honestly, I take the pressure pretty well, I think. I know I’ve got good coaches behind me and they know what they’re doing and they’re helping me out.”
The talent was apparent with Fuller heading into the season, Morris said, and it didn’t take long for him to adjust to the speed of the varsity game. Fuller’s production has been critical in the run-pass-option scheme with quarterback Caleb Taylor as opposing defenses seek to take away Rustlers’ playmakers on the outside such as River Wasson.
“You just need reps to find that vision and that’s something he’s doing really, really well,” Morris said. “Running backs have rules just like everybody else and he trusts those rules and is starting to see the field really well.”
Fuller had a fine football mentor last season in one of the state’s leading rushers in A.J. LaFurge, who is now a freshman with the Carroll College program. This season, the senior Clement has taken Fuller under his wing.
“He keeps it positive on the field when things aren’t going well,” Fuller said. “He’s always helping me out and making sure I’m doing well. We’ve gotten really close over the year and have a great bond going.”
Not one to take plays off, Morris said Fuller will continue to be a steady hand for CMR this season and into the future.
“He’s a great kid, super coachable,” Morris said. “He gives us maximum effort on the field and if he makes mistakes, he cleans them up. So, the sky is the limit for him.”
The Rustlers are looking to bounce back after a 17-14 road loss to Skyview last Friday. CMR led 14-10 after the first quarter but did not score for the remainder despite outgaining the Falcons 399-143. Fuller rushed for 164 yards and Wasson hauled in four passes for 51 yards on top of two total touchdowns.
“We got ourselves involved in some situations that were out of our control and the ball didn’t bounce our way,” Morris said. “Nothing I don’t think the kids could’ve fixed at the time or the coaches could’ve fixed at the time. Skyview’s homecoming night went their way as far as calls went and as far as the ball bounced. Not any lack of effort from our kids.”
Undefeated Bozeman is the top team in the Eastern AA thus far, coming off a 44-9 drumming of Billings West last week. Quarterback Kellen Harrison leads the state in passing at over 244 yards per game with 12 touchdowns to four interceptions and is also a threat to run the ball.
Rocky Lencioni and Cordell Holzer are both top five in the state in receiving, and Bozeman also boasts formidable offensive and defensive fronts.
“The amount of returning starters they have, it’s almost like they left off at the state championship game and kept playing,” Morris said. “What Bozeman does very well is they don’t hurt themselves and they capitalize on teams that do. Are they a beatable football team? Absolutely. Any given Friday night. The key to our success is to not beat ourselves. They’re a state championship-caliber team and most of those kids played in the state championship last year. But I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Keegan Fuller 'nothing but productive' for CMR football team
