Junior safety Devin Farmer didn’t have to be asked twice by West Aurora’s coaching staff.
Farmer was all aboard for the Blackhawks, who were looking for somebody to join a group of players to fill in for the team’s top two injured running backs in the final regular-season game,
“I played offense my freshman year and had a little confusion learning the plays and I moved to cornerback last year,” Farmer said. “They moved me to safety this year for a bigger role.
“Then this week it was, ‘We need you again.’ And I was like, ‘I got you, coaches.’ It felt good.”
Especially because Farmer made the most of his opportunity.
He was one of seven players to carry the ball Friday night for West Aurora in a 41-0 Upstate Eight Conference victory over crosstown rival East Aurora at Roy E. Davis Field.
Farmer finished with team highs of 12 carries and 99 yards to go with an 11-yard touchdown run for the Blackhawks (6-3, 5-1). He also had a 53-yard TD run nullified by penalty.
It was the 129th meeting between the two schools and 21st straight win for the Blackhawks, who hold a 69-48-12 lead in the series that dates back to 1893.
Farmer entered the game ranked fourth with 36 tackles for West Aurora. He also has one interception and a blocked punt.
Stepping in at running back, however?
“Well, I felt a little iffy at first, but I feel great about it now,” Farmer said. “I mean, my first time at running back on varsity and it’s for East-West? It’s really fun.”
More Top Picks Best Electric Golf Carts
Fellow junior defensive back Davion Stewart also joined the offense with nine carries for 79 yards and a 41-yard TD run that capped West Aurora’s opening three-play, 62-yard drive.
It came after East Aurora (5-4, 3-3) ran 12 plays to start the game but turned it over on downs.
The Farmer-Stewart duo filled spots held by senior Bryce Riley and junior Michael Williams, who have 931 and 561 yards rushing, respectively. Riley, out with a leg injury, is expected back for next week’s playoff opener. Williams is out for the season with a broken collarbone.
Juniors Eli Browning and Keyeldrick Woods Jr. combined for three TDs in new backfield roles.
“I’m just proud of the kids,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. “We’ve battled injuries and had a lot of guys in news spots, but we kept stepping up and making some plays.”
Senior kicker Darek Szczeblewski made field goals from 25 and 36 yards before East Aurora’s Daivon Douglas burst through the line and blocked a 28-yard attempt in the third quarter.
Douglas, a senior linebacker/receiver, caught eight passes from senior quarterback Joseph Becker for 72 yards, but the Tomcats struggled with their ground game.
“I really think the night was the defense,” Eimer said. “East High hasn’t been shut out all season. That’s a good offense over there. One of the big things we did was get Douglas on the ground.
“That kid’s really good. We limited his big plays.”
Eimer also used all three of his quarterbacks because starter Tyler Fecht wasn’t 100%, either.
Farmer, however, didn’t surprise his head coach.
“Devin is a very talented running back,” Eimer said. “We decided to not use him there this season because we had Michael Williams and Bryce Riley and there’s not enough carries for everybody.
“But I knew he had that ability in him. He deftly showed some splashes of being real special (Friday night). And on defense, he’s been consistent all year.”
Farmer, a sprinter in track who medaled at state in the spring with West Aurora’s 400 relay team that took sixth, could have caught the Tomcats by surprise.
“I think so,” he said, “Because last year, I only played defense. I’m guessing when they saw me, they didn’t recognize the speed or the skill.”