by Frank Aceto

Associate Sports Editor

Tallmadge -- Someone better page Jamel Miller.

He now has some company in the 2,000-yard club.

Senior tailback Tyler Fortner eclipsed the two-century mark during the Tallmadge football team's 31-14 victory over Green Oct. 24 at Rossiaky Stadium.

Fortner rushed for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries.

After 10 weeks, he had 2,046 yards and 19 touchdowns on 269 carries. Fortner also had two TD receptions on the season.

His rushing total ranked third on the all-time list behind Miller, who rushed for 2,278 yards in 2004 and 2,122 yards in 2005. Miller, a 2005 graduate, guided the Blue Devils to the state semifinals both years.

"That was one of my goals for the season," Fortner said. "As long as my team wins, I'll take it."

As a result of Fortner's production, Tallmadge earned a ticket to the Division II Region 5 playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

The sixth-seeded Blue Devils were scheduled to visit Parma for a date with third-seeded Padua Franciscan Oct. 31. Results were not available at press time.

If Fortner can duplicate his week 10 performance, Miller's record will fall.

One could make an argument for either running back being better than the other.

Fortner has the better yards-per-game average since his total has been accumulated after 10 games. Miller's two-year rushing totals took place during 14-game seasons.

Fortner has carried the ball more times this season than Miller ever did in a season.

The Miller-led teams passed the ball more often and since the Blue Devils dominated most of their opponents during those days, Miller didn't get too many carries in the second half.

Fortner, however, has established quite a legacy.

He has rushed for more than 200 yards five times, including a school-record 310 against Firestone in week three. Fortner has rushed for 100 yards or more in his last nine games and has reached the end zone three times in four games.

He has run for two TDs in a game seven times.

Fortner has proven that the old saying is true: "No rest for the weary." He has carried the ball 25 times or more seven times -- all in the last seven games. Fortner rushed for 1,600 yards and had 4,037 in his career.

"Tyler has carried the ball more than any other back I've coached," Blue Devils head coach Joe Vassalotti said. "He deserves a lot of credit along with our offensive line of [senior] Zack Cevasco [left tackle], [senior] Kyle Phillips [left guard] [junior] Steve Reedy [center], [senior] Ben Feeman [right guard], [senior] Andrew Roy [right tackle] and [senior] Cory Armbruster [tight end]."

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