Barbara leads Spartans to success on the gridiron

By Brent Hinckley

Monday, Sept. 22, 2008 | midnight

Cimarron-Memorial's football team has a strong history of running back success.

Vernon Fox played in the NFL, while Arnold Parker (Utah), Kellen Marshall (Oregon State) and Eddie Wide (Utah) all reached the Division I ranks.

Junior fullback Zach Barbara knows that history and hopes he can be part of the Spartans next group of stand out backs.

As a freshman in 2006, he watched Wide run for 1,743 yards and 23 touchdowns and be named the state's player of the year. Also, fullback Eric Brinkley rushed for 864 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Barbara said junior running back Steven Nixon reminds him of Wide while he takes after Brinkley.

"They left some big shoes to fill," Barbara said. "We're not good enough to say we're better then them, but I think we're on the right track."

Through the season's first four games Barbara has rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown, while Nixon has added 472 yards and nine touchdowns.

"If Zach runs and blocks well, it opens up for Steven. If Steven runs and blocks well, it opens up for Zach. They need each other to be successful and we need them to be successful," Cimarron coach Rod Vollan said.

Cimarron trailed 28-0 in the third quarter in its opening game against Dixie, Utah, on Aug. 29 and coach Vollan was looking for a spark for his offense.

Barbara provided that spark when he broke through for a 17 yard touchdown to get the Spartans on the scoreboard.

"That got us motivated. It felt great to do that for my team," Barbara said.

The offense rallied around Barbara's score, but couldn't complete the comeback, falling 35-28.

Vollan is the former freshman coach and has watched Barbara improve each year since first coaching him.

"He's always willing to get better and is a great team player," Vollan said. "He's an integral part of what we want to do and that's run the ball well."

Nixon and Barbara have been teammates since their freshman year, and while Nixon's the leading rusher and scorer, Barbara's one of the first people he gives credit to.

"He always does a great job. He runs well. He blocks well. It'd be a lot tougher without him," Nixon said.

Watching Wide wasn't his only memory from his freshman year. He'll never forget watching Bishop Gorman end the Spartans' undefeated season in the first round of the playoffs.

"We're all a family. It doesn't matter if you're a freshman, junior varsity or varsity," Barbara said. "I wasn't playing with them, but it still hurt to see them lose."