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Running Tough
LC's Palmer a Blue Collar Back
Article by: Ryan Collingwood
For the Lake City high school football team, winning is everything.
In a program where a state championship is a realistic goal year in and year out, hard work is instilled to reach the goals set forth; if you want something, you go get it.
LC senior running back BJ Palmer is microcosm of that philosophy.
The T-Wolves (6-0, 1-0) who are currently riding an 18 game winning streak heading into the 6th week of play, are heavily favored in the gem state for a repeat state title, but Palmer is quite adamant about taking each game one at-a-time.
We have to go work Monday through Thursday each week to be successful. notes Palmer, we realize we have a big target on our back and people are going to be playing their best games against us.
Watching the 5-foot-10, 175-pound yard churner, one would think he had grown up around backfields, toting a collective pigskin since the days of jungle gym. Taking a glance at his career statistics at the 14 year old school that include 1,825 yards in 18 games as a starter for the defending 5A state champions, one would never fathom up until four short years ago Palmer was strictly a defensive tackle for his respective junior high town-team squad.
But for the returning all-IEL selection who is currently is atop the IEL statistical category in rushing, fate intervened in its truest form.
Well, our 8th grade team was down 24-0 going into the 3rd quarter and our coach asked me and (Matt) Heston what we should do. Palmer said. We asked if we could play some running back, he let us, and we came back and won 28-24 and Ive been playing the position ever since.
Just four years later, Palmer, an integral part the high-octane LC offense, is en route to breaking the schools all-time rushing record: A feat he credits solely to his offensive line.
A running back is only as good as the offensive line he has. All the credit goes to them. Palmer said. As for the record, it goes through my mind every time I walk into the locker room and see his name (Scott Bushnell) on the record board. But I am more worried about winning games. If I get the record, I get the record.
Football has been a common thread in the Palmer household. Other brother, Justyn, was a 2001 graduate and all North Star League linebacker at Mullan high school while their father also had a run at glory in the late 70s in the Silver Valley. Needless to say, the gridiron is a family affair.
As a kid I remember watching my brother play and that really got me into (football), exclaims Palmer. He still gives me a hard time if I dont go out there and hit somebody.
While the senior speedster efforts on the field are often heralded, his marks in the classroom havent gone unnoticed, either. Palmer maintains a 3.0 GPA and hopes to continue his academic and athletic ventures at the next level.
My focus is getting good grades but I would really like to play at the next level and get into teaching. I love kids and would like to coach and teach.
Do you have a comment or story idea? Send it to ryan@idahosports.com
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