By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
It certainly seems fitting that the initials of Washington’s star running back is “T.D.” — as in, touchdown.
Travis Daniels is having a monstrous season for the Pam Pack. Of course, his favorite part of playing football is finding the end zone.
He needs just 11 more yards, which he can get during tonight’s home game against the South Central Falcons, to reach 1,000 yards rushing for the third consecutive season.
The 5-10, 175-pound senior has galloped for 989 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 103 carries. Daniels is averaging 9.6 yards per carry. He’s well on his way to reaching his preseason goals of 2,000 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns.
Running for big yardage and finding the end zone is nothing new to Daniels. He ran for 1,553 yards and 21 scores last year.
As a sophomore, Daniels picked up 1,200 yards and 11 scores. In his freshman season, the fleet-footed running back gained 125 yards and two touchdowns in three games.
All total, Daniels has 3,867 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns in his career.
Daniels models his game after Hall of Famer Walter Payton. The former Chicago Bears’ great, who led the Bears to the 1985 Super Bowl, ran for 16,726 yards in his career.
Daniels followed that up with games of 164 yards and two touchdowns, 132 yards and a score, 205 yards and three touchdowns and then 158 yards and a pair of scores in a 35-0 homecoming win over D.H. Conley.
Daniels, a superb long jumper and sprinter for the Pam Pack track team, said his play on the football field has been boosted by his track events.
Daniels also credits time in the weight room with helping him become a more powerful running back.
His father, George Daniels, is at every game capturing every juke and sprint from the star running back.
Daniels, who also plays defensive back and is the main return man on special teams for the Pack, has developed a large allegiance of Washington fans because of his play.
While he’s putting up huge numbers, Daniels said he and his team have to keep improving.
Daniels, who is undecided on a college but does want to continue his football career, is hoping the Pam Pack (4-1, 1-0 Coastal Conference) can give its fans and tonight’s Walk of Fame inductees a win over South Central (0-5, 0-1).
Daniels wouldn’t mind being an inductee himself one day.
If and when they do, it would be appropriate to hold that ceremony in the end zone.
TRAVIS DANIELS stats
Game 1: 20 carries for 330 yards and 4 TDs
Game 2: 26 carries for 164 yards and 2 TDs
Game 3: 22 carries for 132 yards and a TD
Game 4: 18 carries for 205 yards and 3 TDs
Game 5: 17 carries for 158 yards and 2 TDs
TOTAL: 103 carries for 989 yards and 12 TDs