Struthers senior becomes school’s all-time rushing leader

STRUTHERS, Ohio (WKBN) – Last week, Struthers senior Devin Braham broke a 25-year-old record to become the program’s new all-time leader in rushing yards.

“My mentality during games, I kind of like to wear people down. I’ll come and I’ll hit you every single play,” Braham said.

Over the years, the hard-nosed runner has proven that running style time and time again.

“I’m going 100% every play, I’m going to wear you down eventually and then I’ll bust off a big run and score,” Braham said.

It helps to have an offensive line like the one Struthers has developed over the years, with most of the offensive linemen blocking for Braham dating back to pee-wee football.

“The first time he gets hit, he rarely goes down, so it takes a few guys to get him down,” Struthers Head Coach John Bayuk said. “He is a violent runner and that’s what you want in high school football. We want to play violent up front and luckily we have a violent runner behind them guys.”

In the midst of back-to-back 1,300-yard seasons, Braham recently set the new school record for career rushing yards after posting a season-high 240 yards in a win over East , surpassing former Wildcats and Syracuse star running back Watler Reyes .

“I watched Walter when I was a kid, when I was at Hubbard, and I watched Struthers play Hubbard and Walter Reyes was the guy you had to stop,” Bayuk said. “So, I know of Walter when I was a young kid and to be coach, any kid who broke that record, that’s just a special thing for us.”

Reyes still stands as the second all-time leader rusher in Syracuse football history, a spot he now shares at Struthers.

“Actually like knowing the name, knowing like the history of him, especially how we went and did so good on higher levels, it makes me very hopeful for my future,” Braham said.

“Walter Reyes was an elite football player, and for him to be able to surpass Walter speaks volumes of how good Devin is,” Bayuk said.

Now, Braham is closing in on the single-season record as well, sitting a little more than 100 yards away from his third school record (career rushing yards, tackles in a season), but it’s all about producing for the team down the stretch.

“More yards and more touchdowns. I’m hoping for a lot more wins and to keep going and keep our momentum through the playoffs,” Braham said.

Braham will have a chance to add to his total with the Wildcats (7-1) back in action on Friday, Oct. 18 as they travel to Niles.

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