Attention or not, Dismuke gets it done for Bryant

David Harten
October 21, 2011

BRYANT — Karon Dismuke accepts that the offensive publicity goes to the passing game. And he's okay with that.

After all, it's allowed the running back to play well without being the key component of every defenses preparation, rushing for 623 yards and six touchdowns this season for Bryant, and helping the Hornets to a 6-1 record, including an undefeated mark in the 7A/6A Central Conference.

"I like it," Dismuke said. "It's really good that we throw the ball so much, and then we start running, it's wide open. So I benefit off that."

A senior, Dismuke has added balance to one of the most potent offenses in the area, averaging 89 yards per game to counter quarterback Hayden Lessenberry's aerial assault on the conference. It's all helped the team average 35 points per game and has the Hornets in first place in the conference.

He's the yin to the passing game's yang, and for coach Paul Calley, he's as efficient as necessary this season. Something Calley expected.

"We really did, he had a good year last year," he said. "...I expected to have this kind of year. The thing about him, he's unselfish. He blocks just as well as he runs. We tell our backs, 'we know you can run, that's why you play the position, but you've got to block. He can do that, he wants to do that."

Dismuke's resolve has been on display more than any time during the last two weeks. After finishing with a season-high 201-yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns in a 38-21 win over Russellville on Oct. 7, Dismuke battled through a leg injury early in the game to come back in during the fourth quarter and rush three straight times to help set up the game-winning field goal in the 31-28 win at Conway last week.

Though Dismuke is used to playing with pain, he played a majority of the 2010 season with a broken left wrist that forced the offense to only run him to the right side.

The win vaulted the Hornets to the top of the conference standings.

"He was feeling the pain and we tried to limit his carries," Calley said. "But coming down to the end of the game, we recovered a muffed punt, and we got down there. He said, 'coach, put me in, I can go.' He ran the ball hard three times, got us the first down."

A senior, Dismuke is a Division II-type prospect who could be getting attention for the state schools. But a deep playoffs run is all he really cares about now. That, and maybe a 1,000-yard season.

"I know I want (us) to get conference, and I want to at least try to rush for 1,000 yards," he said. "And I want to at least get past the second round of the playoffs this year. I don't want to go out in the second round."