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Monday, September 8, 2008
The Lone Ranger
Houston, TX
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He’s ready for a break-out season
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Spring Branch Northbrook High School is no football hot bed. It’s not one of these super schools in the suburbs that raises tens of thousands of dollars through booster clubs every year. No signs in the players’ yards. It’s never had a winning tradition. Ever.
In fact, unlike many of the schools in its district, Northbrook only had 40 varsity football players for the first day of fall practice. Much of the talent gets picked over by other traditional football powers in their open enrollment district.
On the dawn of any new season, however, there is hope for every program. Could this be the year for the Raiders? Who knows, but it does have one star that has stayed home that they can call their own.
“This year it’s the ‘Derrick Rainey-Show,’” running backs coach Deshun Baker said. “He’s a special kid, athletically and academically. He’s a homerun hitter that can take it from anywhere on the field.”
Rainey is Northbrook’s Big Man on Campus (BMOC), who rushed for over 700 yards and had over 200 receiving yards as a junior. He also starred on the Raiders’ basketball and track team.
“I like being the leader on this team,” he said. “I don’t feel any pressure or anything. I welcome it.”
Rainey is an enigma at Northbrook. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound athlete is the franchise. He’s the first family of Northbrook. His older brother, Jonathan, is an outside linebacker at New Mexico and the last Division I athlete to come out of the program. His younger brother will also star on the varsity as a freshman.
“He’s ready for a break-out season,” coach Craig Cripps said. “He can change direction very well and has gotten tremendously more physical. It’s no surprise that he’s our impact player.”
His versatility has enticed several Division I scouts to Northbrook. With offers from Iowa State, Arizona and TCU, Rainey has a choice to make.
“I was thinking about waiting until after the season, but it could be earlier,” he said. “I really need to secure my spot at the college level.”
For now, his job security is safe at Northbrook. He will do everything but drive the bus for the next 10 weeks.•
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A collection of this month's best action photos.
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