Running back St. John’s labors help Columbia roll on

There may have been a little wit behind his answer, but when Columbia (Hunters) head coach Chuck Wyborney asked Miles St. John how many carries he could handle in the State B-8 championship game, he had to be surprised by the answer.

“He thought he could do 80,” Wyborney said.

Before you laugh, that isn’t as far-fetched when you consider St. John has carried 79 times for 550 yards in the Lions’ first two playoff games.

“We rely on the running game and he’s been the beneficiary of it,” Wyborney said. “He’s so dang tough, he doesn’t come out very often.”

When second-ranked Columbia (12-0) takes on top-ranked LaCrosse-Washtucna (12-0) at 4 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome today, the Lions will need a lot out of St. John if they will end the Tigercats’ 47-game winning streak.

“I’ll probably just look for five or six at a time,” St. John said. “If there’s a hole, I’ll see what I can make of it.”

St. John played at Kettle Falls through his sophomore year, then moved to Hunters and started at running back on last year’s state runner-up, a 60-12 loss to L-W in the state championship game. Columbia led 12-0, one of the touchdowns coming from St. John, before falling apart.

“I think we’re living it this year,” St. John said. “Last year, it didn’t sink in until the championship game. All week we’ve wanted to come together and give a great game. This is the last one for most of us probably for our life. It’s going to be a big game.”

It’s been a big season for St. John, who has the sixth-most rushing yards in any B-8 season (2,599) and is eighth all-time in all-purpose touchdowns (39).

“He’s the best running back we’ll see all year,” L-W head coach Jeff Nelson said. “He always seems to keep his pads low, makes contact and keeps driving. He gets yards after contact. He’s a tough kid.”

There wasn’t a tougher game for St. John than Saturday’s semifinal against Neah Bay in Pasco.

St. John rushed 44 times for 339 yards, five touchdowns, including the go-ahead score, and then intercepted Neah Bay’s two-point conversion attempt to tie the game in overtime.

To play with the biggest 8-man team in the state, Columbia will have to be much better tonight.

“Everyone has to just give 100 percent,” St. John said. “There’s some big boys down there. They come out and want to hit. We’ve got to set good blocks, fire out and just hit them hard.”