Offensive Player of the Year: Tony Heard

EDMONDS -- Like a swift, powerful ship carrying pesky barnacles through the water, Tony Heard often drags a flailing defenders on his back before he finally crashes to the turf.

Heard, an unusually bulky yet speedy tailback, could go down sooner. The Edmonds-Woodway High School junior could protect himself by giving in to the mob focused on slowing him down.

But luckily for Edmonds-Woodway, Heard always strives to gain one more foot, one more inch.

"I don't like to get tackled. I don't like to go down. Even if it's like three or four guys on me I'm still staying up trying to get that extra yard," he said.

For a season in which he used his uncommon talent and determination to rush for 2,238 yards and 31 touchdowns, the 6-foot, 225-pound Heard is The Herald's 2007 All-Area Offensive Football Player of the Year.

Although Heard still has one more prep season to go, this fall he played as if every carry was his most important yet.

"He's a very hungry football player. He's never satisfied," said E-W coach John Gradwohl.

Heard wisely credited the Warriors' offensive line for his success, but Gradwohl said Heard, who was also named the 2007-08 Gatorade Washington Football Player of the Year, frequently willed his way to more yardage.

"He had a lot of yards after contact," said Gradwohl. "His leg drive and his determination were huge. He made something out of nothing a lot."

After playing a supporting role for E-W's varsity team during his freshman and sophomore seasons, this year Heard became the leading man. He moved from fullback to tailback, replacing his brother Josh Heard, and generated one of the most productive performances ever by a Warrior ball carrier.

Tony Heard averaged 20 carries per game as the offensive focal point of a team that advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals for the second consecutive season. E-W went undefeated in the Western Conference South Division and compiled a 12-0 record before losing 28-26 against eventual state champion Lewis & Clark of Spokane Nov. 24 in the Tacoma Dome.

Heard, also a standout linebacker, averaged an astounding 8.6 yards per carry. He was bruised and battered by the end of the season but successfully fulfilled his new job as E-W's battering ram.

"I knew I'd have to step up and take a big role this year," he said. "I was ready for the challenge though. I like challenging myself and I strive for that. It was just fun for me to be put in that position."

Even after having some huge early-season games, Heard stayed focused and steadily improved throughout the season, Gradwohl said.

"The thing I was most impressed with," said Gradwohl, "is he just always worked hard. Sometimes kids have a lot of success and they start cruising. That was not him. He was always looking to improve and overall I think he really did on both sides of the ball."

Heard constantly thrilled E-W fans with bulldozer-like runs and bursts of head-turning speed.

One of his biggest supporters has been his older brother, who excelled in the E-W backfield before finishing up his senior season in 2006. Josh Heard attended every Warriors game this season and actively rooted for Tony.

"He was like my coach. He really helped me out this year. I really liked the support he gave me," said Tony Heard.

Josh Heard also gave his little brother some big-picture advice about enjoying the high school experience.

"He just said, 'Go out there and cherish the memories.' He said, 'You're going to miss it, so go out there and have as much fun as you can,'" said Tony Heard.

Heard hasn't committed to a college yet but he should be one of the state's elite Class of 2009 recruits, Gradwohl said: "Right now I believe he's one of the best football players in the state. By next year I think there's no doubt that he'll be way up there."

Determined to get better, Heard said he plans to improve his speed and make the most of his final prep season, and what he hopes is a successful college career.

Said Gradwohl, "He's fast right now but his goal is to be the fastest. If it's genetically possible, it's gonna happen."

Contact Herald Writer Mike Cane at mcane@heraldnet.com. For more high school sports news, check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.