The fact that he’s only a junior and figures to have at least 11 games remaining in his high school career pushes impressive to the brink of incredible.
That said, Seastrunk doesn’t seem to be overwhelmed by the fact that he needs only 86 yards in Temple’s Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff game against DeSoto on Saturday to surpass Delarrius Wilson - who ran for 3,069 yards from 1992-93 - as the Wildcats’ all-time rushing leader.
Seastrunk says he wasn’t aware that he had passed former Temple great Kenneth Davis for second place on the rushing list in last Friday’s win over Killeen Shoemaker until the news was broken to him after the game.
“I just play,” Seastrunk said, adding that he probably knows his teammates’ statistics better than his own. “I didn’t know about it until somebody told me later.”
However, don’t think that Seastrunk - known for his top-level speed and elusiveness - doesn’t appreciate the company he now keeps in Wildcat history.
“It’s an honor, because Kenneth Davis is one of the greatest running backs to play at Temple,” Seastrunk said. “(Temple junior linebacker and fullback) Derrick Davis is my best friend and Kenneth is Derrick’s uncle, so I’ve known him for a long time. I’ve watched him on ESPN Classic (playing for the Buffalo Bills).”
One of the state’s most highly recruited players for the class of 2010, Seastrunk has compiled staggering numbers while running out of Temple’s relentless Wing-T offense for two seasons.
In 21 career games, he’s carried 286 times for 2,984 yards - 10.4 per carry - and 33 touchdowns. Nineteen of his scoring runs have been of 40 yards or longer and 14 have gone for 50 yards or more.
Among Seastrunk’s highlights are four 200-yard games, including a career-best 291 yards in Temple’s 49-42 win at Killeen Ellison in October.
Along with the rushing record, Seastrunk is closing in on Wilson’s Temple record of 41 career touchdowns. With 37 TDs - he’s also scored on three receptions and a kickoff return this season - Seastrunk is one behind Roy Chapman (38 from 1950-52) and four behind Wilson’s mark.
Legendary former Temple coach Bob McQueen is in the unique position of having watched Chapman play, having coached Davis and Wilson (along with Wilson’s backfield mate Gerald Watson), and now helping coach Seastrunk and his teammates as a consultant to Wildcats coach Bryce Monsen and his staff.
McQueen isn’t ready to declare Seastrunk the best running back in Temple history, but it certainly isn’t anything personal.
“Lache is very fast - as fast in a football uniform as anyone I’ve ever been around,” McQueen said while observing Temple’s Thursday practice. “He’s a very good runner and he’s still learning.
“(But) I’m not saying he’s better than the other ones we’ve had here. That’s like saying who’s your favorite grandchild or child.”
McQueen pointed out that although Davis starred on varsity for Temple’s juggernaut teams from 1978-80 (the Wildcats won their first state championship in ’79), he didn’t play offense as a sophomore and then had to share carries in the Wing-T set his final two seasons.
McQueen also explained that Wilson and Watson alternated series in Temple’s one-back attack in 1992 and ’93, though they also had the opportunity to play in 31 games as the Wildcats went 15-1 in winning the 5A Division II state title in 1992 and posted an 11-4 mark in reaching the state semifinals in ’93.
Davis was described by McQueen as “the complete back. He could run, block, catch and he could make you hurt when you tackled him.” McQueen also has high praise for the vision and toughness of Wilson and Watson.
Along with Seastrunk’s obvious traits of speed and visiion, McQueen said his character bodes well for what figures to be a bright future.
“Lache is a fine player, but he’s also a great human being,” he said. “He’s a good kid.”
Seastrunk blazed onto the scene in his very first varsity game in 2007, running for 112 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries as Temple beat South Garland. He went on to rack up 1,532 yards and 19 scores for the District 13-5A-champion Wildcats.
After going through a rigorous strength and conditioning program last spring and summer, Seastrunk came back this season with more power in his 5-11, 178-pound frame and the results have shown.
“It seems like he’s a little bigger and is running with more authority,” Monsen said. “When you need 4 tough yards, he gets you 4 tough yards.”
Of course, Seastrunk is just as likely to go 84 yards, and the long touchdown sprint - which he punctuates by pointing one finger to the sky - has become his trademark.
And with just one more long run, Seastrunk might rush his way to the top of Temple’s record book.
gwille@temple-telegram.com
