It was business as usual for Zach Kais on Tuesday, October 14 against Moose Jaw's Central Cyclones in the final regular season game of his high school career.
Get the ball, run around (or through) opposing players and find the end zone for six points.
After all, he's done it many times in his high school career.
So that's exactly what he did, scoring four touchdowns while rushing for 278 yards on 25 carries in a 48-7 Raider victory.
But that's not all he did.
Because the small in stature but large in heart YRHS Raider running back did something that no one in 29 years had been able to do, and he did it without even knowing. "Honestly until that last game of the season nobody told me about anything," said Kais. "At the end of the game they drenched me with water and I had no idea what was going on.
"Then I found out and I was surprised."
What Kais had found out was that, during his final regular season game, he had broken a 29-year-old league rushing record for most rushing yards in a career; a record previously held by former Saskatoon Hilltop Shaun Ashmeade, who ran for 2,546 yards over a three year high school career at Moose Jaw's Riverview Collegiate Institute from 1983-85, 39 yards less than Kais' record-breaking total of 2,585 yards over his three years as the starting running back for the YRHS.
So how come he never knew exactly how close he was to the record? Surely someone would have told him if he had not found out for himself?
The only thing is, they didn't. Although at least five people on his team knew just how close he was, 240 yards away to be exact, from the record books.
And those people, oddly enough, are the five people that he has to trust the most on the football field: the offensive line. "They (the offensive line) didn't say anything to him. He didn't know how short he was from the record and he didn't know anything about it," suggested Raiders head coach Roby Sharpe. "But I went to the offensive linemen before the game and said to them 'okay here's the situation, guys. Kais can break this record and we need you guys to help him' and they did."
In fact the offensive line put forth their strongest effort of the season in the second half of the game against Central, enabling Kais to romp for 200 second half yards and the rushing record; something Kais, after coming to grips with being the new record holder, acknowledged. "They (the offensive line) definitely led me down the field all the way to the end zone and that full house unit, well it's unstoppable," said the new MJHSFL all-time rushing leader, continuing, "And as a running back your relationship with the offensive line is very important.
"The bonding over the years really makes a difference and I couldn't ask for a better group of guys."
The evolution to RB
Everyone associated with the Moose Jaw High School Football League knows about Zach Kais. He's the Raiders dynamic and explosive running back that loves contact and relishes the chance to run over a defensive player.
Although they all probably have different names, some less than flattering, for the player that has no doubt embarrassed their defences each time they've faced him.
However they all agree that he's that little orange ball of hate that destroys defences and lights up the scoreboard from the running back position.
But Kais could have very easily wound up, not as a running back, but a quarterback.
Because originally Zach Kais the running back was Zach Kais the peewee quarterback. "When I started in grade seven I was a quarterback," mentioned Kais. "And I played quarterback until I came to high school."
Once he got to high school, Zach Kais the quarterback became Zach Kais the less than outstanding defensive confusion. "When I got to high school I played a little bit of defence, but I wasn't the greatest out there on D so I went to running back, found my spot there and now I'm here."
And here just so happens to be the record books with 2,585 career yards, 39 more than the previous record of 2,546 held by Shaun Ashmeade.
So it looks like Kais, after trying out several positions, finally found his true calling. But what's next for the league's all-time rushing leader?
Is he going to commit to a university on a scholarship?
Actually, he hasn't even though about that. Instead, he's got more important things on his mind. "I don't really pay attention to that until after the season," said Kais, continuing, "Right now I'm just concentrating on the rest of the season and trying to win a championship.
"Then I'll think about all of that."
But rest assured, when he does commit to a university there is one thing that is certain: he's past the point of testing out new positions.
Because Zach Kais is now a sought after record-breaking running back.
