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Show 1 susc record breaker Ancar expresses a love for football n v. A . I . , d- " , t , , ' . . v , CEDAR CITY If someone had predicted one year ago today that Southern Utah State College would have a new individual oneseason rushing record set during the 1982 season,it would have been very, believable. Almost to a person, however, the guessers would have pointed at junior runningback Gary Mason as the man to set the new record. Mason, after all, was the top returning ball carrier, and he was being groomed to be the major ball carrier this season. It wasn't Mason who set the new record. Instead it was Curry Ancar, who until this year, probably hadn't carried ball from scrimmage two dozen times in his life. Ancar, a 5-10, 175-pound junior from Port Sulphur, La., was almost an afterthought af-terthought as a running back. It wasn't until late in the 1981 season that he started to attract attention at-tention because of his performances as a kick return specialist. He got his chance to run from scrimmage during a 68-10 SUSC rout of Western New Mexico. He ended the day as the leading ground gainer and with a touchdown to his credit. He was told that beginning the 1982 season he would no longer be a defensive back; rather, he would be a running back. Curry felt fine about the decision to move to offense. "I knew all summer that when I came back, I'd be a ball carrier. I was satisfied. I felt I would have a better chance to start at that position." Except for special teams duty, Ancar saw only occasional duty as a defensive back. If Ancar had been able to foresee the 1982 season, he would have been overjoyed at the switch to runningback. He carried the ball 177 times this year, gaining a new 1,130 yards. That's 86 yards more than the previous single season rushing record. He also scored eight touchdowns and caught seven passes. His per game rushing average was 113 yards, and his per carry average was 6.4 yards. "I love to carry the ball," Ancar said. "The biggest thrill I get out of football is scoring a touchdown." Ancar feels, and the coaches all agree, that his biggest asset as a runner is his quickness. "I'm not the fastest guy on the team, but I am quick and elusive," he said. "During the first part of the season, I got a lot of yards up the middle running behind (All Rocky Mountain Atheltic Conference center John) Smith. Then when he got hurt late in the year, more of my yards came outside on the option plays." Ancar was guided to SUSC by his high school coach, Bill Evans, a former Thunderbird basketball player. "I've enjoyed it at SUSC; it's given me an opportunity to continue playing football," Curry says. During his high school days, Ancar was a defensive back and slotback. "I probably carried the ball about 10 times in high school," he explained. He was an all district player his junior and senior years at Port Sulphur High and was named the most valuable defensive player his senior season. He was also an all-district all-district basketball player for Coach Evans, who is head basketball coach and aassistant football coach at Port Sulphur. At SUSC, Ancar is carrying a "B" average with a major in business administration and a minor in marketing. "Someday, I'd like to own my own business," he said. Already Ancar is looking forward to next season, but his thinking is realistic about extending his own rushing record. "I think I surprised them a little this year," he said, speaking of the opposing teams. "They'll probably key on me more Curry Ancar next year. Of course several of the offensive line will be returning, and Gary Mason (whose blocking Ancar figures was a big boost) will hopefully be healthy." Mason played the entire season with an injured ankle which prevented him from running the ball as much or as effectively as anticipated. |