Nick Hessling rushed for 1,011 yards last season for Dexter. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ALEX ABATE | DAR Sports Writer

Dexter senior running back Nick Hessling is quick to deflect attention. However, a glance at his statistics from last season may draw a second look.

Hessling rushed for 1,011 yards and finished with 10 touchdowns as the Bearcats finished the season 6-4. He carried the ball 200 times and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. Hessling has played football since fifth grade but has been in the backfield since eighth.

"(I) just run hard and do whatever I can," Hessling said.

Hessling took over the running duties his junior year after Zach Ventura, also a 1,000-yard rusher, handled many of the carries Hessling's sophomore season.

"Nick is a good football player," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said. "Whenever you graduate, you have to stick someone else in there and Nick came in here last year and was a 1,000 yard rusher and did a great job for us."

There was a great contrast from Ventura's style to Hessling's, Pixley said.

"Nick is more of a north-south runner and more of a power type guy," Pixley said. "He is going to make one cut and go, he's a hard runner. Zach was more patient and liked to move more laterally."

Hessling's positive attitude and toughness is part of what makes him successful, Dexter quarterback Ben Mills said.

"The thing about Nick is, he plays hard every play, he never quits," Mills said. "He might get banged around but he runs hard and isn't afraid of anybody."

Although Hessling is in going into his final season with the Bearcats, his mentality hasn't changed much.

"I'll always do my best for coach and whoever I play for," Hessling said. "It will always be the same."

Hessling, who has been under Pixley for three years previously as a Bearcat, attributes much of his success to his leader.

"I've learned a lot from coach," Hessling said. "Any time I need help, he is there and he will always give me a truthful answer on how I do."

Pixley also expects more of Hessling as he has moved to his senior year.

"He is a year older, a year stronger," Pixley said. "He is going to run hard. He is a tough football player, we just have to make sure we are blocking for him."

Like any good offense does, Hessling needs to support of his line to get play started and push the defense back.

"Without them, I couldn't do nothing," Hessling said. Hessling has played other sports throughout his high school career but through the years, the other sports have dropped off and he has just stuck with football.

"I got too small for basketball and just wasn't the greatest baseball player," Hessling said.

Hessling has been working through the year for this season.

He often did weight training to gain strength heading into his final season.

"I bust my butt all the time, just for this 10 weeks, hopefully longer," Hessling said.

Although Mills is in his second season as a starter, Hessling will also guide the younger players.

"He can be (vocal), he is getting more and more vocal," Pixley said. "(He's) definitely a guy we are going to look to for leadership."

Hessling' presence in the backfield also takes some of the burden off Mills' shoulders.

"It is nice having a running back that will come in and get 5-6 yards a carry," Mill said. "It takes a lot of pressure off. It (also) feels good for the big boys up front when they are pounding it out."

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