Journal-News.com

HAMLTON — Last year as a junior, Badin High School quarterback Zach Toerner broke every single-season school passing record in the books.

But instead of trying to top those marks as senior, Toerner was content to take his game — and the team — in a different direction.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Toerner continued to demoralize defenses in 2008, but he did it as much with his legs as he did with his right arm, rushing for 20 touchdowns while throwing for 14 on the way to earning the JournalNews Butler County Offensive Player of the Year Award.

"I knew that we didn't have as many scoring possibilities through the air as we did last year," said Toerner, who finished with 617 rushing yards on 188 carries.

"I figured since (sophomore running back Nate) Snellgrove got hurt in the preseason and we didn't have a real threat at running back that I was gonna carry the ball more," he continued. "When we started running it more at the beginning of the year and succeeded at it, I figured it would continue, which it did the rest of the year."

And how did he like his new role?

"I liked it during the game, but after the game my legs were pretty tired," he said. "The next day would always be a little rough for me, especially in my thighs. But it was definitely one of my favorite things to run the ball, especially with me being bigger than most linebackers, it was fun to be able to run over a linebacker or run over a safety."

In addition to big rushing numbers, Toerner also had a solid season passing the ball, completing 150-of-265 passes for 2,282 yards and 14 touchdowns.

"I think it was validation of last year to show that he wasn't a flash in the pan, and that he wasn't just a product of an offensive system," Badin coach Dave Wirth said. "Rather it was that he was the key cog in the wheel and the one who made that offensive system possible."

Other than the 33-27 overtime win against Clinton-Massie in the playoffs, Toerner said his biggest highlight of the year came in the McNicholas game. He had just thrown an interception that led to a Rockets touchdown, making it 14-0.

On the ensuing drive, Wirth called a running play for Snellgrove, but Toerner called his own number instead and scored on a 20-yard run. When he made his way to the sideline, Wirth was waiting.

"He said, 'I didn't tell you to do that, but good job,' " Toerner said. "That game showed us that we were good enough to win a lot of games this year."

And they did, going 8-4 to match the team's highest win total in 10 years.

And it might be a whole lot longer before someone matches Toerner's numbers.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.