After further review...

NEW ULM -- After rechecking the football records at New Ulm High School, Eagle senior tailback Micah Neidecker already is the career rushing record holder in school history.

I wrote that Neidecker was at 2,034 for his career, but rechecking his stats from his sophomore season he had 143 yards rushing. Add that in (and a corrected junior mark of 938), that moved Micah to 2,177 yards, which breaks the previous mark of 2,104 set by Warren Sondag back in the 1952-54 era.

Neidecker can also own the single-season rushing mark held by Larry Zimmerman (1978) of 1,184 yards. He needs 103 yards to break that mark. One more touchdown on Wednesday would also give him the single season TD mark of 18. Now, it is held by Stan Martinka with 17.

If you add in his rushing plus his receiving yardage for his career, Neidecker has 2,449 rushing and receiving yards.

HAYNES BIG REASON: If you want to give credit for the success that Neidecker has had this season, you can point to the offensive line (Jon Colburn, Kory Andersen, Matt Schuetzle, Mike Neveln, Chris Dauer and Andy Schwab).

But one person who has been overlooked for not only Neidecker's success but also the Eagles' success this year has been that of fullback Jared Haynes.

"He is one of those quiet, unsung heroes," said Eagle head coach Rick VanRoekel. "He just loves the game of football whether he gets to carry the ball or not. He likes to hit people; he is a team player and I know that Micah appreciates it. He knows that without Jared in front of him, he would not have the yards that he has."

VanRoekel commented that Haynes "has done a good job for us."

Haynes played varsity late last season "because he was hurt at the beginning of the season. We had Craig Spelbrink (at fullback) last year but the last three of four games, Jared took over."

VanRoekel said that Haynes "is an intense player. You see him on the field and you know that he wants to win. He tries the hardest that he can. He does not get upset with other people but he just wants to win. He knows that we are better than this and he gets frustrated. He is one of those leaders that we have on the field. He talks to the players but he can back it up."

If you were at the Fairmont game, you saw what kind of a player that he is. Playing special teams, Haynes flattened a Fairmont punt returner with one of the hardest hits that I have seen in years. The Cardinal player had about a 10-yard start with the punt until Haynes met him and stopped him cold in his tracks.

"We were watching that film and saw it about four of five times and he just steamrolled that player," VanRoekel said. "I can't believe he got up right away. That is just the type of player that Jared is. He just loves to hit people and he has made some tremendous blocks for Micah going to the outside."

So when you watch football Wednesday (a double-header at Johnson Park, with MVL playing at 4 p.m. against Red Rock Central and the Eagles entertaining Redwood Valley at 7:30) watch not only for number 35 (Neidecker) but also look for number 44 in Jared Haynes. You will see a big reason for Neidecker and the Eagles' success this year.

HAVEMEIER BREAKS WRIST: Loren Havemeier will be out 5-6 weeks because of a broken right wrist he sustained in junior hockey last week. Havemeier is playing for the Tri-City Storm of the United State Hockey League.

HANSEN RESIGNS AT SLEEPY EYE: Jon Hansen has resigned as president of the Sleepy Eye Baseball Association. Hansen was instrumental in getting the 2000 state amateur tournament in Sleepy Eye and Fairfax. He also did a lot of work for Sleepy Eye baseball in the past.

Column by Jim Bastian, Journal sports writer