JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Xander Edwards did what running backs do after a big game — credit the offensive line.
But this wasn’t just a big game for the Bolles sophomore. This was the biggest game ever by an area running back. And that put Edwards on the hook for picking up the check for a big — and expensive — celebratory meal for the biggest guys on the team.
“I’m taking them out today, actually,” Edwards said.
Added left tackle Andrew Smith: “He’s already told us we’re going to get Hooters, and I’m pretty happy with that. Just great to be a part of this. I’ve been blocking with them since middle school. So, you know, really, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Local notable single-game rushing performances
| Player, school, opponent, year | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|
| Xander Edwards, Bolles vs. Baldwin, 2025 | 522 | 8 |
| Derrick Henry, Yulee vs. Jackson, 2012 | 502 | 6 |
| Bilal Ally, Clay vs. North Marion, 2015 | 496 | 5 |
| Derrick Henry, Yulee vs. Taylor Co., 2012 | 485 | 6 |
| DJ Alderman, Hilliard vs. St. Joseph, 2025 | 477 | 7 |
| Derrick Henry, Yulee vs. West Nassau, 2012 | 455 | 5 |
| Maurice Wells, Sandalwood vs. Stanton, 2003 | 429 | 5 |
Only a sophomore, Edwards rushed for an area-high 522 yards on 39 carries in a 73-39 win over Baldwin last Friday night, totals that quickly traveled from that small town all across the country.
The yardage surpassed Yulee icon Derrick Henry’s high of 502 yards, set in a 45-28 win over Jackson in 2012. Henry broke Tampa Bay Tech’s Shawn Smith’s mark of 501 rushing yards in a game (1985 against East Bay). Henry never had more than six rushing touchdowns in a game in his historic career.
The 522 rushing yards ranks second in state history behind Baker’s Kayleb Wagner, who had 535 yards on 25 carries in a 49-48 win over South Walton on Sept. 17, 2021.
No Florida running back is currently in the NFHS record books with eight rushing touchdowns in a game although South Lake’s Kelley Joiner Jr. is the only player in recent history to reach eight in a game, doing that in a 54-35 win over Lake Minneola in 2018.
“It’s unreal. I’m still trying to process all of this, because it’s like crazy, but it’s a blessing. I’m blessed,” Edwards said.
Blessed to have good coaches and parents.
Blessed to have the best offensive line in the area.
“Best in the state,” Edwards said.
Could anyone have seen this coming?
Yes and no.
“It is insane. He’s a great player, so, you know, I wasn’t expecting anything less from him,” said center Ryan Ingram. “He’s got a lot of yards in the past games, so it’s definitely a crazy thing but, you know, it was very expected.”
Bolles didn’t figure to be in a shootout type of game against Baldwin. But the Indians had no problem racking up more than 500 yards of offense and putting points on the board in what turned out to be a wild offensive game. Baldwin quarterback Gage Screws passed for a school-record 445 yards in that game. That meant the Bulldogs had to keep scoring right back.
The line was phenomenal
Start with the offensive line, the big guys who tend to get recognized only when something goes wrong. Edwards raves about each and every player on the line, calling them all “dogs,” a badge of utmost respect. From left to right that night, Smith at tackle, Caleb Barnes at guard, Ingram at center, Reid Koelbel at guard and William Zebroski at tackle. That group was missing versatile starter JJ Sparks (Miami commit) who was out with an injury.
“They came ready to play. I mean, with JJ, without JJ, doesn’t matter. We come prepared for every game,” Edwards said. “We know what they’re going to do on film so we just prepare really well. It doesn’t matter who’s in.”
Edwards said he’s known some of his linemen since middle school and that connection shows.
“He’s just like a mixture of everything. Fast, physical, violent, like, hits ‘em head on. It’s just crazy,” said Zebroski, the right tackle. “We’ve been best friends since, like, sixth grade, and just blocking for him now is just like a surreal feeling.”
“We appreciate each other. I think that’s really the main goal,” said right guard Koelbel. “We know we all work for each other. We all love each other so much. I think that’s just our main goal.”
Football is in his blood
At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he’s physical enough to roll through tackles and fast enough to pull away from them.
Edwards has the genes to be special.
His father, Marc, was Ohio’s Mr. Football winner in 1992 and went on to star at fullback for Notre Dame. Marc was a second-round draft pick of San Francisco in 1997 and played in the NFL until 2005, including a couple seasons with the Jaguars.
Edwards has been on a tear this year, never going under 100 yards rushing in a game. He’s running behind the area’s best offensive line, and he’s not splitting carries.
“We go one on ones, and we play physical in practice and bang heads every day,” said Barnes. “We have a great coach, Coach [Matthew] Lawrence is great. He teaches us a lot of plays that are different and our technique is just perfect, and every day is critiquing something.”
Edwards had a strong freshman year (78 carries, 558 yards, 8 TDs) as part of a three-back rotation with seniors Emmett Grzebin and Ty Neal. Bolles head coach Matt Toblin said he thought Edwards played last year as a physically bigger running back. He’s trimmed down this season and plays much quicker than he did in 2024. Through six games, Edwards is up to 1,395 rushing yards and 20 TDs. He’s averaging 10 yards per carry.
“He spent this offseason really changing his body,” Toblin said. “I think he kind of committed last year as freshman to being like a big back, and then this year he’s lost some of that baby fat and has really turned into explosive athlete.”
Toblin said Edwards’ big game happened out of necessity. The Indians kept on scoring against Bolles, throwing it all over to the tune of 424 yards and turning what seemed to be a comfortable win into a back and forth shootout.
“There’s so many things that went Xander’s way in that [game]. … Obviously, they continue to score, so we have to continue to go but also, like, the next three running backs are all out. We have one with a hairline fracture, one with a broken collarbone, one with a turf toe. And so we’re in a situation where, like, like, there’s no one else.”