Akron a Favorite Choice for WPa RB

[Captain Kangaroo]

Ringgold running back has something to prove

By Paul Schofield

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Ringgold football coach Russ Moore said if there is a WPIAL running back better than Robert Heller, he wants to meet him.

The veteran Rams coach speaks highly of his star tailback and defensive back, who rushed for 1,545 yards and 14 touchdowns on a team that finished 3-7 a year ago.

In Moore's opinion, he's the best tailback in the WPIAL.

"He's going to play college football somewhere," Moore said.

Heller, nicknamed 'Bean' by his father after college football analyst Beano Cook, has received interest from numerous Division I programs including Indiana, Akron, Kentucky, Pitt, West Virginia, Penn State, Central Florida and Miami (Ohio). His current favorites are Indiana and Akron.

Although Ringgold, a merger of Donora and Monongahela high schools, only has one WPIAL football title, the school and district boasts its share of great athletes, including Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, former NFL players Scott Zolak, Fred Cox and Deacon Dan Towler and baseball players Ken Griffey Sr. and Stan Musial.

Heller, 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, is a tough runner who wants to leave his own mark at the school by delivering punishment on the field.

"I like to run between the tackles and lower my shoulder," said Heller, who calls himself a power runner with speed. "We're going to surprise some teams this year. It all depends on how much the offensive line improves."

Moore said Heller has worked hard in the off-season to make himself stronger.

"He's a leader," Moore said. "Hopefully, we'll take some pressure off him."

Heller can bench press more than 300 pounds, and he has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40, according to Moore. He has rushed for more than 2,800 yards and has seven career interceptions, including four last year.

Moore said the Rams offense can't be one-dimensional. To that end, he hopes fullback Phil Kevech and running back Kyle Law will get more carries, which should allow Heller more space.

"We have to be able to throw the ball and use Bean as a decoy," Moore said. "He's going to get his share of carries, and we're hoping he'll be more productive."

Heller should no trouble sharing. He played midget football in Finleyville with South Park's Connor Dixon and Tyler Scruggs and Baldwin defensive lineman Jason Pinkston. Dixon has verbally committed to Michigan State and Pinkston has said he is going to Pitt.

"It was a lot of fun," Heller said. "They didn't have a midget league team to play on. We were pretty good."

Heller has big goals of his own for his senior season. He and Kevech, one of his best friends, hope to lead Ringgold back into prominence.

"Phil and I are the strongest players on the team," Heller said. "He's a great blocker and I like following him through the holes. He's just as big as some of the linemen on the team, but he's going to get his chance to run the ball."

Ringgold opens the season at home against Moon on Aug. 26, but he is looking forward to other games on the schedule.

"I can't wait to go against West Allegheny and Dorin Dickerson, and against TJ (Thomas Jefferson)," he said. "Hopefully, we'll give them a little better challenge."

Heller is a three-sport athlete who plays basketball and is one of the top baseball players at the school.

"If Bean would concentrate on one sport, he'd be even better at whatever he decided to play," Moore said.